Overview

• On June 20, 437 migrants landed in the UK via seven small boats, taking the 2025 total to 17,817.
• Mid-year crossings have jumped from 12,313 in 2024 and 10,518 in 2023 to a record 17,817 this year.
• Starmer warned that countries refusing to repatriate rejected asylum seekers could face cuts to their visa allocations.
• French police intensified operations on Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer beaches, deploying tear gas to deter departures.
• The government plans to dismantle smuggling networks through its new Border Security Command while critics raise safety and cooperation concerns.