Measures include security forces on the ground and military and police ships and aircraft patrolling in the area 24 hours a day. Interior Minister Christopher Castaner said the plan aims at “ending migrant Channel crossings that are not only illegal but also extremely dangerous.”French authorities counted 40 illegal Channel crossings and 31 failed attempts in 2018, mostly in November and December. ___4:30 p.m.A migrant has been rescued after he jumped off a German aid group’s vessel and tried to swim to Malta. Another private aid vessel, with 17 rescued migrants aboard, also was sheltering off Malta. EU nations have been bickering over how to manage migrant arrivals since well over 1 million people entered in 2015.

Source: Washington Post January 04, 2019 15:41 UTC