Over 1,000 Migrants Cross English Channel in One Day Amid UK Border Policy Shift

Over 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain on the first day of Shabana Mahmood's tenure as Home Secretary, marking the largest daily total since May and pushing the total arrivals this year beyond 30,000. Mahmood, appointed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer amid a cabinet reshuffle, faces criticism over Labour's immigration policies, with calls for tougher measures to halt the crossings and manage the migrant influx. The government plans to close migrant hotels and expand the use of former military barracks to house asylum seekers, continuing and enlarging policies initiated by the previous Conservative administration despite opposition from migrant advocacy groups and some local councils. Defence Secretary John Healey has indicated military planners will assist border command efforts, and military sites are under review for accommodating migrants, while public calls to abandon the European Convention on Human Rights—which complicates deportations—have been rebuffed in favor of tightening its application. Immigration has become the top voter concern, surpassing the economy, fueling political tensions and protests led by figures such as Nigel Farage. Critics argue current policies, including a "one in, one out" migrant returns agreement with France, are insufficient to stem crossings, emphasizing the need for full deportations of illegal arrivals to effectively address the crisis.