Overview

• Between May 31 and June 1, French maritime authorities rescued 184 migrants in operations off Fort-Mahon, Wimereux, Grand-Fort-Philippe and Dunkerque.
• Rescue teams carried out multiple separate interventions after small boats reported engine failures or issued distress signals.
• At least 15 migrants have died attempting Channel crossings so far in 2025, including a woman and a child off Calais on May 20–21.
• Almost 13,000 migrants have reached England since January, surpassing arrivals during the same period in 2024.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed offshore “return centres” for rejected asylum seekers as part of efforts to curb irregular migration.