Britain | Channel crossings

Britain’s new plan to “stop the boats”

A law to stem the flow of asylum-seekers is unlikely to work

A small boat packed with people is rescued in English waters by BF Defender operated by Border Force and overseen by HMS Severn in the middle of the English Channel on the 13th November 2022 near Folkestone Kent, United Kingdom. Channel Rescue watched from a safe distance as the inflatable raft containing about 40 people entered into English waters, BF then approached the dinghy slowly and threw a rope line over to bring them closer to the boat safely before unloading them on the Boarder Force vessel. Border Force boats patrols the English Channel to locate and collect asylum seekers crossing from France.(photo by Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images) — Image: Getty Images

Mar 7th 2023

“Stopping the boats” is one of Rishi Sunak’s five promises for 2023. More than 45,000 small-boat migrants crossed the English Channel last year, exposing Britain’s inability to control its borders. That figure was expected to grow this year. Mr Sunak and Suella Braverman, the home secretary, have now come up with a plan. New legislation unveiled on March 7th would render inadmissible asylum claims by those who travel across the English Channel on flimsy dinghies. Instead, they would almost all be detained and deported, never to return.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Go Home Office”