French Police Rescue 66 Migrants Attempting to Cross English Channel

On May 2, 2024, French police rescued 66 migrants, including women and children, who were attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain off the coast of Dieppe. The migrants were spotted by the Dieppe semaphore and the Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (CROSS) alerted the SNSM (French National Society for Sea Rescue) and the maritime gendarmerie.

The migrants were found in a boat experiencing difficulties during the afternoon. A lifeboat from the SNSM rescued them and brought them to the port of Dieppe, where they received assistance from local emergency services and border police. The prefecture of Seine-Maritime stated that the migrants were taken care of by a comprehensive system, including transportation to a gymnasium in Dieppe.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of being smugglers in connection with the incident. The city hall stated that the administrative situation of the migrants was being analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the ongoing issue of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel to reach the United Kingdom, which has become a major political issue in Britain as the country prepares for a general election later this year. The British government recently passed controversial legislation that would allow some asylum seekers to be deported to Rwanda, a move criticized by human rights groups.

The rescue comes amid a rise in the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to reach the UK. In March 2024, the UK government reported that more migrants had arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel from northern France in small boats than in any similar period before, with some 4,644 undocumented people making the journey. Meanwhile, the UK government confirmed that it had begun detaining people for deportation to Rwanda in July under its new policy, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailing it as a new step in the country's migration policy.

Key Takeaways

• 66 migrants rescued off French coast while attempting Channel crossing to UK.
• Migrants found in boat experiencing difficulties, rescued by SNSM and brought to Dieppe.
• 3 people arrested on suspicion of being smugglers in connection with the incident.
• Incident highlights ongoing issue of migrants crossing Channel to reach UK, a major political issue.
• UK reported record number of migrants arriving by small boats in March 2024, began deportations to Rwanda.