The U.K. saw the largest number of migrants arrive on a single vessel this weekend, highlighting how the crisis is deteriorating despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pledge to "smash” the smuggling gangs ferrying people across the English Channel.
A boat carrying 125 people crossed to England from France on Saturday, the Home Office confirmed. The incident broke a previous record from August when 107 people crossed in what was described at the time by U.K. media as a "mega-dinghy” and comes just weeks after the first unescorted beach landing of a migrant boat was reported in almost three years.
"These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people-smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement. "Protecting the U.K. border is my priority as home secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”
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