It’s over!”The asylum-seekers finally emerged from the sea defeated, but there was no doubt that they would try to reach the U.K. again. Europe's increasingly strict asylum rules, growing xenophobia and hostile treatment of migrants were pushing them north. While the U.K. government has been hostile, too, many migrants have family or friends in the U.K. and a perception they will have more opportunities there. While boat crossings across the Channel represent only a tiny fraction of migration to the U.K., France agreed last year to hold migrants back in exchange for hundreds of millions of euros. At least 20 people have died so far this year trying to reach the U.K., according to Utopia 56.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 19, 2024 08:36 UTC