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These are the first attempted crossings since 250 arrived on 17th August
GB News can reveal that hundreds of illegal immigrants are crossing from France today despite terrible weather conditions in the English Channel.
At least five migrant boats including - GB News believes - a mega-dinghy, are making the illegal crossing.
These are the first attempted crossings since 250 illegal immigrants arrived on the 17th of August.
There are heavy thunderstorms in the Channel at present and winds are increasing, making any attempted crossing extremely dangerous.
One small boat has already reached UK waters and the illegal migrants on board have been taken to the Border Force processing centre at Dover Harbour.
GB News can confirm that 87 illegal immigrants were counted as they disembarked from the Border Force vessel Ranger at the Western Jet Foil landing dock.
They have now been taken for brief medical and security checks at the nearby migrant processing facility before being transported to the main migrant centre at Manston in Kent.
GB News can confirm that more than 16,000 Channel migrants have crossed from France so far this year.
The figure is more than 40 per cent lower than for the same period last year which saw more than 41,000 cross by the end of 2025.
Today's decision by criminal people smuggling gangs to launch multiple boats in bad weather conditions appears to have taken French police patrols by surprise with most of the boats able to launch unhindered.
New figures today shed light on the backgrounds of those arriving into the country via small boat.
The Home Office revealed the five most common nationalities are Eritrean, Sudanese, Afghan, Somali and Iranian.
In the 12 months leading up to June 2026, the total number of asylum claims was 86,000, a 21 per cent drop compared with the previous year.
Over half of asylum seekers coming to Britain arrived via illegal entry routes, while a further 41 per cent of claimants has previously held a visa or other leave.
Around 90 per cent of illegal entries are small boat migrants.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "A little over two years into office and the asylum backlog is down, the number of asylum seekers in hotels is falling, illegal working arrests are at record levels, and deportations and returns are up markedly.
"Small boats numbers are also now falling, but we are not complacent and there is more we must do. That is why I have boosted enforcement on the French beaches and overseas and introduced new legislation to tackle the pull factors that draw people here through unsafe and illegal routes.
"This government is restoring control at our border and fairness to the migration system."
