Overview

• Two migrants died after falling unconscious on a small boat carrying nearly 80 people from Gravelines, France, to the UK.
• The French Navy rescued 12 individuals, including the deceased, while the remaining passengers continued toward British waters under surveillance.
• A record 828 migrants crossed the Channel on May 21, marking the highest daily total for 2025 and pushing the year's arrivals past 13,000.
• Humanitarian groups, including Safe Passage International, emphasized the urgent need for safe, legal migration pathways to prevent further deaths.
• The International Organisation for Migration reported 82 migrant deaths in the Channel in 2024, highlighting the escalating dangers of these crossings.