UK: Over 1,600 Illegal Migrants Arrive on Fishing Boats from France in 5 Days

London, Oct 7 (KUNA) – The British Home Office announced on Wednesday that more than 1,600 illegal migrants arrived on the south coast of England over the past five days, having crossed from the north of France in fishing boats. In a statement, the Home Office confirmed that 1,620 illegal migrants crossed the English Channel in 21 boats, arriving in separate batches between last Friday and yesterday, Tuesday. It noted that the highest single-day figure was recorded on Monday, when 609 illegal migrants arrived on eight boats. On Sunday, 418 migrants arrived on five boats, while 338 arrived on five boats yesterday. This tally follows the British government’s announcement last Wednesday of the cancellation of an agreement with France concerning the return of migrants, an agreement that had only entered into force last year. The Home Office confirmed that it is no longer processing new cases under its pilot program with France to transfer asylum seekers in exchange for a corresponding number of legal migrants. Under the deal, France agreed to readmit an illegal migrant who had left its territory in fishing boats, in return for the UK allowing the legal entry of an illegal migrant from France who has family ties in the United Kingdom. (End) M.R.N. / M.M.J.