More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far in 2025 — the highest number recorded by July since official data collection began in 2018, according to government figures. By July 30, the total number of arrivals had reached 25,436, surpassing the previous record set in late August 2022.
The surge in crossings in Channel has intensified political and diplomatic pressure on the UK government to curb irregular migration. In a significant move earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to a new bilateral arrangement that would see some small boat arrivals returned to France. Under the pilot scheme, for each migrant sent back, the UK will accept a French asylum seeker — likely someone with existing family ties to Britain.
While the government has not confirmed exact figures, initial estimates suggest that around 50 individuals could be transferred each way on a weekly basis. However, critics — including Conservative opposition leaders — have called the scheme insufficient. They argue that returning just a few dozen migrants per week will do little to address the scale of crossings, particularly given that over 170,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats since 2018.
The UK recorded nearly 37,000 such crossings in 2024 — a 25% increase over the previous year. The highest ever annual total was in 2022, with 45,755 arrivals. Authorities expect numbers to continue climbing unless bolder interventions are taken.
France, for its part, has promised to intensify patrols and increase efforts to intercept so-called “taxi boats” — vessels that cruise the northern coastlines, collecting migrants waiting in shallow waters. These measures build on an earlier £500 million agreement with the previous Conservative government, which aimed to fund additional French border patrols over three years.
Domestically, the Labour government has also launched several enforcement initiatives. On July 23, 25 individuals — including alleged gang leaders and small boat suppliers — had their UK assets frozen and were banned from entering the country. The Home Office has proposed a new range of penalties for suspected smugglers, including travel bans, social media restrictions, and phone confiscations.
In a further tightening of asylum policy, migrants who arrive illegally will now be effectively barred from acquiring British citizenship — a right previously available after 10 years of residency. The Refugee Council estimates that at least 71,000 people could be impacted by this change. Additionally, ministers are seeking to expand deportation powers to include asylum seekers convicted of sexual offences, not just those sentenced to over a year in prison.
Despite these efforts, opposition leaders blame Labour for the record-breaking crossings, accusing the government of scrapping the Conservative-backed plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the situation a “free-for-all” and the “worst year on record.”
Meanwhile, the human cost of these journeys continues to mount. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that at least 82 migrants died attempting to reach the UK in 2024, making it the deadliest year to date. At least 18 more have perished in 2025 so far, bringing the total number of lives lost in Channel crossings since 2018 to 247. Refugee advocacy groups have warned that overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels are increasingly being used, heightening the risks for those making the journey.
