Boat carrying dozens of migrants makes first Channel crossing of 2023

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – A boat carrying dozens of irregular migrants crossed the English Channel on Monday, according to the British Defense Ministry.

In its latest update on Tuesday, the ministry said 44 migrants on a small boat were detected while crossing the Channel.

It marked the first Channel crossing of irregular migrants this year, as the latest weekly update by the Defense Ministry recorded a small boat crossing the Channel from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

According to media reports, the migrants intercepted by British Border Force were taken to Dover in southeast England.

According to official data, a record 45,756 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in 2022.

The British government's efforts to find a solution to irregular migration issue continue.

While making a deal with France to fight human smuggling in the English Channel, the British government also revealed a controversial Rwanda plan last April.

The Rwanda plan would see asylum seekers who crossed the English Channel in small boats deported to Rwanda, where their claims would be processed.

Amid criticism towards the Rwanda plan, UK High Court ruled in December that plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda while their status is decided are lawful in broad principle.