UK: 56,000 migrants expected to arrive on small boats this year

Court filings show that the United Kingdom is expected to see as many as 56,000 migrants arriving in the country on small boats as the government looks to reduce migrant crossings. The numbers meant that the British government is expected to house over 100,000 migrants claiming asylum.

On Wednesday, court documents to London’s High Court that are part of the case against migrant crossings showed that as of March, the country is expected to accommodate over 109,000 asylum seekers, 48,000 of which are housed in hotels that could cost $7.7 million per day. So far this year, 5,000 more people have arrived in the UK on small boats following the record numbers of migrants claiming asylum in the UK last year, up by 500 percent in the last two years.

“Significantly, the number needing support is predicted to grow still further: Home Office operational plans are based on scenarios of up to 56,000 small boat arrivals in 2023,” the court filings said. “That would take the supported population to between 120,000 and 140,000.”

Immigration has long been an issue in the country’s politics, and Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to make migration one of his five key priorities. The government introduced a law back in March that would bar anyone who arrived in the UK on small boats from claiming asylum and have them deported back to their home country or to a safe third country.

The UK last year agreed to a deal with Rwanda to deport thousands of migrants to the East African country. However, there have not been any deportations so far, as the courts have yet to decide on the legality of the agreement.

Meanwhile, London has warned China against attempts to intimidate foreign nationals on British soil in response to reports about an overseas Chinese “secret police” outpost. The UK has previously said the reports of such police stations in the country are “extremely concerning” and that its authorities were looking into such issues. British policing minister Chris Philp said the government is aware that around 100 of such stations are found all over the world.

“This government takes interference with foreign nationals here, transnational intimidation, extremely seriously,” said Philp. “It is completely unacceptable, and we will do whatever is necessary to stop it from happening.”