❓WHAT HAPPENED: More than 500 migrants attempted to cross the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom in small boats, leading to chaotic scenes at sea and a large-scale rescue response.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Britain’s Border Force, French border patrol vessels, and boat migrants.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The English Channel, with incidents reported throughout the past week, culminating in a significant surge today.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s clear yet again, Border Force just can’t cope with the numbers attempting to cross today. They’ve had to call on very significant resources from the lifeboat service.” — a senior maritime security source
🎯IMPACT: If these crossings are successful, the total number of illegal migrants crossing this year will surpass 25,000, presenting a significant challenge to UK authorities.
British Border Force vessels were reportedly overwhelmed on July 30 by the sheer number of migrant boats attempting to cross the English Channel from France. Multiple lifeboats from Dover, Ramsgate, Walmer, and Dungeness were called to assist Border Force vessels. This follows President Donald J. Trump’s warning on a trip to Scotland that Europe must “get [its] act together” on illegal immigration or be irrevocably transformed.
French border patrol vessels and lifeboats were observed escorting several migrant dinghies towards Britain—instead of towing them back—despite changeable weather conditions in the Channel over the past week, with choppy waters that have caused drowning in the past.
A senior maritime security source described the current situation as “complete chaos.” Reports indicate that approximately 1,000 migrants have made the illegal journey over the past seven days, with today marking a significant spike due to improved weather conditions overnight.
The total number of illegal crossings this year is now approaching over 25,000, despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently assuring President Trump that the British authorities were making progress against smuggling gangs.
Starmer had promised to “smash the gangs” when entering office in mid-2024, but the number of illegal entries has only increased. Many migrants end up in taxpayer-funded hotels once they arrive, which has also been a significant source of controversy in recent weeks. In Epping, protests erupted following the arrest of an illegal immigrant from Africa accused of multiple sexual assaults of children. The man had been in Britain for less than a month before his arrest.
“Europe is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago,” President Trump said of the “horrible invasion” across the continent on Monday. “They’ve got to get their act together. If they don’t, you’re not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it.”
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