London: Newly released data shows that the United Kingdom has seen an influx of 28,076 illegal migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year, a 46 pct increase compared to the same period in 2024. Local media reported on Monday that the surge comes amid growing public concern over migration, with residents staging protests outside hotels accommodating asylum seekers.
According to Kuwait News Agency, demonstrations broke out across the UK over the weekend following a court ruling last week ordering the removal of asylum seekers from a hotel in the Epping area, northeast of London, an issue that has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate. The government has pledged to phase out the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers by 2029, alongside broader reforms to the asylum system.
On Sunday, the Home Office announced a series of measures aimed at accelerating asylum appeals and reducing a backlog of more than 100,000 cases. Official figures released last week also revealed that asylum applications have reached record-high levels, with a larger number of migrants now being housed in hotels compared to the previous year.