Dozens of illegal migrants have been rescued after trying to cross the English Channel to reach the UK.
Pictures today show Border Force officers and boats at work bringing the migrants ashore after they took advantage of some better spring weather conditions.
It comes after more than 100 illegal immigrants were identified for the first wave of Rwanda deportations with the first flight likely to depart next month.
The government is said to be likely to overturn amendments to its Rwanda bill made by the House of Lords, despite plans by Labour to oppose a crucial vote tomorrow.
It now means the total number of asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK by boat is approaching 3,330.
Dozens of illegal migrants have been rescued today crossing the English Channel
Pictures show the migrants coming aboard into the UK after they made the journey across the Channel in small boats
This latest influx of migrants means the total number of asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK by boat is approaching 3,330
The latest statistics on small boat data by the Home Office reported that 62 migrants entered the UK on Sunday in one boat.
On March 5, Home Office official figures revealed that 2,983 asylum seekers arrived aboard 63 boats since January 1.
By the following day, the total stood at 3,208 in 68 dinghies – an average of around 48 people in each boat – after around 100-150 people were picked up in the far mid-Channel.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crack down on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels.
‘This relentless action reduced crossings by 36% last year, despite the number of migrants arriving in Europe from Africa soaring by more than 70%, and more than 26,000 attempts were prevented.’
Pictures previously showed a coach full of people, including young children, ready to leave Dover for transfer elsewhere less than 24 hours after 225 people arrived in the UK in five boats.
One man was seen grinning and sticking his fingers towards the camera while another was seen squinting towards the photographer.
Two young children could also be seen looking out the windows as they contemplated Britain for the first time.
Nine people are tragically known to have died in the attempt this year including a seven-year old-girl who was in a boat which capsized on a canal with 16 people on board at Watten, 20 miles inland from Calais.
Three others were killed when they fell into the water off the coast of Cap Gris Nez on February 28.
Last year 29,437 people made the crossing compared to a record 45,755 in 2022.
Nearly 30,000 migrants aboard 601 boats were also intercepted in the Channel in 2023 – the second-highest annual total.
A migrant stuck two fingers up to a camera while sitting on a coach after arriving at Dover on March 7
A coach full of people, including very young children, were seen waiting for transport away from Dover after they landed in the UK earlier this month
Asylum seekers previously snapped while perching perilously on the side of an inflatable boat – with one even appearing to be holding on to the vessel’s outboard motor
Border Force boats Typhoon, Ranger and Hurricane seen in the English Channel earlier this month
A migrant boat is pictured passing a large cargo ship in the Channel
Today, it was revealed that Rishi Sunak still maintains hopes that a first flight sending asylum seekers to the East African country will depart in the spring, despite peers inflicting 10 defeats on the Government in the Lords.
Conservative MPs have accused peers of trying to ‘wreck’ the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, with the Prime Minister himself saying ‘everyone is trying to block us’.
If the Government is defeated in the House of Lords tomorrow, it could see flights delayed until the summer with the Easter recess possibly preventing further votes on the issue until April.
In the House of Commons last night MPs voted by majorities ranging from 69 to 78 to reject the first four amendments made to the Bill by peers, an indication of a relatively stress-free Monday for the Government.
The amendments overturned included an attempt by peers to ensure the Bill complies with domestic and international law, and a requirement that Parliament cannot declare Rwanda to be a safe country until the treaty with its promised safeguards is fully implemented.
They also rejected an amendment that would have exempted migrants being sent to Rwanda if they had helped British Armed Forces or the UK Government abroad.