Surge in Channel crossings as one in five small boats migrants are now from Vietnam, figures show

A ten-fold increase in Vietnamese migrants has driven a surge in illegal Channel crossings this year, the Government has revealed.

Some 6,265 people have arrived in Britain by dinghy since January, the Home Office said yesterday – a 24 per cent rise on the same period of 2023.

And migrants from Vietnam made up one in five of the arrivals (1,266), up from just 3 per cent (125) a year earlier.

'This represents a ten-fold year-on-year increase in Vietnamese arrivals,' the Home Office said.

Afghans (1,216) accounted for another fifth of the total, marginally up from 1,098, while there were 3,783 from the rest of the world – similar to the 3,826 recorded a year earlier.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the 'changing tactics' of the 'sophisticated' people-smuggling gangs in his press conference on the Rwanda deportation scheme yesterday

No arrivals have been detected in the past week, since the record 534 who came ashore in ten boats on April 15.

However the figures are a major blow to Rishi Sunak's crucial pledge to 'stop the boats', reversing the progress made in 2023 when numbers fell by 36 per cent.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the 'changing tactics' of the 'sophisticated' people-smuggling gangs in his press conference on the Rwanda deportation scheme yesterday morning.

'As well as piling twice as many people into small dinghies and increasing violence against French police, they have shifted their attentions towards vulnerable Vietnamese migrants,' he told reporters. 'Vietnamese arrivals have increased ten-fold and account for almost all of the increase in small-boat numbers we have seen this year.'

But he said work was already under way to tackle the trend, including an agreement with French president Emmanuel Macron on 'closing loopholes to enter Europe in the first place'.

An agreement has also been reached with Vietnam on closer working, and last week Vietnamese officials visited the Western Jet Foil and Manston asylum processing centres in Kent to observe Border Force operations.

Some 6,265 people have arrived in Britain by dinghy since January, the Home Office said yesterday – a 24 per cent rise on the same period of 2023 (File Image)

Officials believe a new migrant worker visa agreement intended to fill job vacancies in Hungary has made it easier for Vietnamese migrants to legally get into Europe, from where they can travel on to France then pay criminal gangs to get into the UK.

The majority are female, in contrast to illegal arrivals from other countries, and are thought to largely end up working in nail bars or as sex workers.

Despite the surge in small-boat crossings, the Home Office statistics published yesterday did show some progress in tackling the backlog of asylum claims and returning people. 

Some 129,407 decisions were made in the 12 months to April 14, the highest number in more than 20 years, with 61 per cent granted leave to remain.

The 'work in progress' backlog has fallen by 39 per cent from 135,959 at the end of 2022 to 83,154 last week. 

Despite the surge in small-boat crossings, the Home Office statistics published yesterday did show some progress in tackling the backlog of asylum claims (File Image)

And the number of hotels used to accommodate migrants now stands at 267, down from 398 last autumn. The number of migrants sent home increased by 55 per cent to reach 26,027 in the 12 months to the end of March, of whom 5,976 were Albanian.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: 'These figures lay bare the Conservative Party's empty rhetoric on this issue. 

This government-by-press-release has proven totally ineffective. Instead of focusing on the backlog, the Prime Minister is focused on sound bites.

'Sunak needs to get a grip, stop cowering to the Right wing of his party and put forward practical solutions to stop the dangerous Channel crossings.'

What is the Rwanda scheme?

Ministers believe the prospect of being sent to Rwanda will deter illegal migrants from crossing the Channel. The Government is gambling that the first flights to East Africa will have a stark impact on Channel arrivals, and demonstrate to voters that the problem is finally in hand.

Is it ready to launch?

The Government is confident. It has had more than two years to work on its preparations, and any kind of operational glitch would be highly damaging. Last month sources said 100 to 150 migrants had already been identified for the first tranche of removals.

Who will be sent to Rwanda?

Under two recent Acts of Parliament the Government has powers to disregard asylum applications from those who arrive in the UK by ‘irregular’ routes such as by small boat. Measures have also been taken to severely restrict migrants’ access to legal appeals. However, some limited appeal rights are retained.

Will there be legal action?

Probably. Migrants who are told they are facing removal to Rwanda are expected to lodge individual appeals. Pro-migrant charity Care4Calais said last week it planned to initiate challenges as quickly as possible. But the PM revealed yesterday that 25 courtrooms and 150 judges have been earmarked to hear such cases promptly, in a bid to avoid delaying flights.

How will migrants be flown out?

Rishi Sunak said an airfield was on standby to handle the removals. A Ministry of Defence base – Boscombe Down near Salisbury, Wilts – was used for the aborted removals flight in June 2022 and the Home Office has been carrying out rehearsals there in recent months. 

It is understood to have been in negotiations with several private charter companies. Previously, firms involved in removals flights have pulled out after being targeted by Left-wing groups. It is understood the RAF is on stand-by to step in.

What happens when they arrive in Rwanda?

They will claim asylum under Rwandan law and be provided with free housing, healthcare, education and other support. A range of safeguards prevent any migrant who is flown to Rwanda from Britain from being sent to any other country, apart from back to the UK if necessary.

How much will it cost?

The Government will pay Rwanda £370 million under the deal, plus a further £120 million once the first 300 migrants have been sent to Kigali. On top, there will be a cost of £20,000 per individual removed and £150,874 per head in ‘processing and operational costs’.