545 Channel migrants arrive to Britain in a single day, sparking fury | UK | News
More than 500 migrants reportedly arrived in the UK on small boats on Wednesday as smuggling gangs took advantage of calmer conditions to surpass the highest number of crossings seen this year.
The day’s total of 545 people, observed spread across ten boats, arrived on the hottest day of 2026 so far, taking the monthly figure to over 1,000. The annual total currently stands at 2,149; this is slightly ahead of the 2,056 recorded in the equivalent phase in 2025; This year ended with 41,472 arrivals, the second highest number recorded since the crisis emerged in 2018.
Wednesday’s wave came after two weeks of no arrivals and was broken on Tuesday with just 74 arrivals.
Ramsgate welcomes visitors
These landings were seen by the press disembarking a Border Force ship in Ramsgate, Kent, wearing life jackets and coats. While repairs to the port continued, the port was taken over from Dover and new arrivals were transported by bus to the Manston asylum processing centre.
Calls for reform of mass deportation unit
The transitions took place at a time when political pressure on immigration was increasing. Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, described the situation as an “invasion” and outlined proposals to create a special unit to “pursue, detain and deport” people without legal status in Britain, setting a target of removing up to 288,000 people a year.
The government’s record on suspensions has come under scrutiny. Under the reciprocal agreement implemented with France last August, less than two percent of incoming small boats were sent back. Home Office figures show 312 people were exported to France under the same deal, compared to 367 transfers to the UK.
The Times reported that a separate legal battle was taking shape as 16 migrants filed a court challenge against Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s last-minute decision to block modern slavery claims; They argued that this move was against the law.
Inquiry demands crossings ‘must be ended’
Earlier this month, a major independent investigation into the deadliest crossing of the Channel concluded the journeys “must end” to prevent further deaths. According to the report, investigators found “systemic failures, missed opportunities” and “chronic staff shortages” in Britain’s maritime emergency response were directly linked to the loss of life that night.
The Express understands the incident occurred on November 24, 2021, when a packed inflatable ship sank in the dark. Only two people managed to escape alive and were found in French waters approximately twelve hours after the first distress calls were received.
The £7m investigation, chaired by Sir Ross Cranston, named 27 victims among the dead, with the identities of four others still unknown. His conclusion was clear: “Some of these deaths could have been prevented.”
“It is imperative to prevent further loss of life from other causes,” Cranston said.
