Two migrants die as record number cross Channel in one day
Two migrants died as more than 800 crossed the Channel in small boats on Wednesday in a record daily high for this year.
Official figures published on Thursday are set to show that overall immigration levels in the UK have fallen but net migration is still expected to stand at more than half a million in the year to December 2024.
Border Force sources said that about 820 migrants had crossed the Channel in small boats by 7am on Wednesday, although the final figure will not be confirmed until later. It is higher than the previous daily record of 705 on April 15.
• Illegal immigration to hit record high despite 'smash the gangs' vow
It takes the total number of migrants to have arrived
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