Brexit has been identified as a contributing factor to the increase in small boat crossings, according to testimony given to MPs. Individuals arriving through irregular means have expressed reluctance to be returned under the Dublin Convention, which permitted the UK to send asylum seekers back to the EU. Meghan Benton, the director for Global Programs at the Migration Policy Institute, highlighted that Brexit had introduced a new aspect to this issue.
Following Brexit, the UK no longer participates in the Dublin Convention, which allowed for the return of asylum seekers to their initial EU entry point. Although no formal replacement was established post-Brexit, the UK and France are experimenting with a ‘one-in-one-out’ return initiative to deter these crossings.
During a session with the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms. Benton mentioned the complexity of determining the impact of Brexit on small boat crossings due to limited available data. Some individuals in northern France have expressed concerns about being subjected to the Dublin process, indicating a perception of the UK as offering additional opportunities for asylum claims.
Critics argue that the absence of a returns agreement with the EU has facilitated the activities of human trafficking rings. French President Emmanuel Macron previously remarked that Brexit had hindered the UK’s ability to deport individuals, potentially encouraging more crossings.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer referred to the small boats as “Farage boats,” criticizing Nigel Farage for his assertions during the Brexit campaign that leaving the EU would not affect migration policies significantly.
Experts suggest that intensifying the ‘one-in-one-out’ return scheme with France could dissuade individuals from attempting these perilous Channel crossings. Dr. Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory emphasized the importance of a high probability of return to dissuade asylum seekers considering the risks associated with the crossing.
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