Fewer people crossing the English Channel in 2023

About 30,000 migrants arrived illegally on English shores in 2023, crossing the English Channel on makeshift boats, translating into a sharp drop compared to 2022, a record year.

The numbers are closely analyzed in the United Kingdom, where successive conservative governments have pledged to “restore border control” after Brexit, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report.

Immigration is becoming a key issue in the campaign for this year's general election.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to stop illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel.

In 2023, 29,437 migrants crossed, and in 2022, 45,774 migrants crossed the Channel, according to data from the British Home Office.

However, 2023's value continues to be the second highest on record, surpassing 2021's (28,526).

Around 20% of all arrivals to British shores in 2023 will be from Afghanistan, according to UK Home Office data up to 29 November.

Iranians continued to represent 12% of crossings, followed by Turks (11%), Eritreans (9%) and Iraqis (9%).

On the other hand, the number of Albanians who could cross in 2022 (12,658) decreased by more than 90%.

London and Tirana reached an agreement aimed at preventing illegal exodus of Albanians to the United Kingdom.

The British government has praised the success of this treaty on several occasions and has also praised the treaty signed with France.

In March, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron reached an agreement to contribute more than 500 million euros over three years to strengthen surveillance on French beaches and smuggling rings.

The British Conservative government, which has adopted more restrictive asylum laws, continues to deport illegal immigrants to the UK.

The plan was blocked by the Supreme Court, but London reached a new deal with Kigali.

Rishi Sunak told MPs in December that the new bill was “the toughest immigration bill ever introduced in Parliament”.