Channel Migrant Crossings Surge Near 15,000 Amid UK-France Asylum Disputes

Britain is facing a record surge in migrants crossing the English Channel, with nearly 1,200 arriving in a single day recently, bringing the total to over 14,800 for 2025—an increase of 42% compared to last year. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has expressed anger and pledged intensified efforts against people smuggling gangs, including raids and seizure of boats, yet critics, including Tory opposition, accuse the government of losing control of the borders. French authorities, despite receiving £480 million from the UK to help curb crossings, have been criticized for their limited interdiction efforts, stopping only a fraction of migrants attempting the crossing. Éléonore Caroit, a prominent French MP and close ally of President Macron, has described the UK as an 'El Dorado' for migrants due to its 'very weak asylum policy' and attractive benefits, while also calling for legislative changes to allow French police greater powers to intercept boats in shallow waters. The surge is partly attributed by some to Brexit, which ended the UK's EU returns agreement and complicated asylum management, though opinions vary within the UK, with some viewing Brexit as worsening border control and others disputing that claim. Both British and French officials emphasize the need for cooperation rather than blame, amid rising political tensions over the complex migration issue.