Sunak Claims He Can Halt Boat Arrivals After Record 5,400 Arrivals

The prime minister remains confident in his ability to “stop the boats”, despite over 5,000 illegal immigrants arriving in Britain in the first three months of this year.

A Downing Street spokeswoman stated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes he can secure the border, emphasizing the importance of the Rwanda partnership in breaking the criminal gangs’ model.

She added that while the government saw progress last year with a one-third reduction in arrivals, there is still work to be done.

The spokeswoman’s comments came after 791 illegal immigrants arrived via small boats over the Easter weekend, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to 5,435.

This quarterly total marks a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and surpasses the previous record of 4,548 arrivals set in 2022.

French Police ‘Facing Violence and Disruption’

The Downing Street spokeswoman highlighted various reasons for fluctuations in small boat crossings in the English Channel, including criminal trafficking gangs exploiting opportunities and weather conditions. She also noted that French police are experiencing increased violence and disruption on French beaches.

The government aims to continue efforts to combat illegal immigration and disrupt criminal gangs’ activities through initiatives like the Rwanda partnership.

Nearly 120,000 Illegal Immigrants Crossed English Channel Since 2018

An analysis by The Epoch Times revealed that close to 120,000 illegal immigrants crossed the English Channel since 2018.

// additional content on the Rwanda bill and illegal immigration statistics

Rwanda Will Not Act as a Deterrent: Lecturer

MPs will continue to consider the Rwanda bill post-Easter recess, aiming to deter illegal immigration to the UK.

// additional content on the effectiveness of the Rwanda partnership and expert analysis

PA Media and Lily Zhou contributed to this report.