More than 400 migrants are feared to be crossing the English Channel toward the UK in one of the largest single-day movements this year. UK Border Force teams rushed early Tuesday to try to stop up to seven small boats launched by smugglers, according to GB News.
If all those migrants reach British waters, the yearly total would jump to nearly 11,000, just one day after surpassing the 10,000 mark. On Monday alone, 473 people arrived on eight boats, raising serious concerns about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to “smash the gangs” responsible for the crossings.
The total number of arrivals this year now stands at around 10,358, with Sunday also seeing 247 migrants reaching the UK in five boats. The calm weather has made it easier for criminal gangs to launch small boats more frequently, said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
In a radio interview, Cooper admitted the high number of crossings is “undermining border security” and “putting lives at risk.” She stressed that the government is working harder to fight the gangs taking advantage of calm seas to smuggle people into the UK.
“This is why it’s so essential to take action on the criminal gangs,” Cooper said. “They’ve been launching boats in better weather conditions and exploiting people in dangerous ways.”
It’s the earliest point in a calendar year that the UK has hit 10,000 migrant arrivals. In 2023, this number was not reached until June 17, showing just how quickly the numbers are rising in 2025.
To help slow the crossings, Cooper said the UK has convinced the French government to change its rules. The new agreement will allow French police to stop boats in shallow waters—something they couldn’t do before due to legal limits.
“These changes will come into force in the coming months,” Cooper added. “We believe this will make it harder for smugglers to launch boats and keep people safe.”