Illegal Channel Crossings to the UK Surge by 25% in 2024, Marking Deadliest Year Yet

Nearly 37,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats, with 76 fatalities recorded, as the UK government shifts focus to dismantling smuggling networks.

• In 2024, approximately 36,816 migrants crossed the English Channel illegally in small boats, a 25% increase from 2023 but below the 2022 record of 45,774 crossings.
• The year saw the highest number of fatalities on record for this route, with 76 migrants losing their lives during the dangerous journey.
• Afghan nationals made up the largest group of migrants arriving by boat, followed by individuals from Vietnam, Iran, and Syria.
• The new Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has abandoned the previous administration's Rwanda deportation plan, focusing instead on targeting smuggling operations with international cooperation, including with Germany.
• The perilous crossings have been a focal point in UK political discourse, with Starmer facing pressure to address the issue, particularly from right-wing parties like Reform UK.

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