The British authorities recorded 872 migrant arrivals crossing the English Channel with small boats on Saturday, record number since the beginning of the yearwhich is attributed to the favorable weather conditions that prevailed in the area.

In total, more than 21,000 people arrived in the UK crossing the Channel this year, a relatively low number compared to the 45,000 arrivals recorded last year.

On Saturday, another 54 migrants were rescued near Pas-de-Calais by the French coast guard and were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The migrants called for help after their boat’s engine broke down, but it was later restarted by two people on board.

Summer is the most favorable time for the dangerous Channel crossing and August saw a record number of arrivals in Britain, with more than 5,300. The issue is particularly sensitive for Rishi Sunak’s conservative government, which has made fighting irregular immigration a priority. Although the law has been tightened and illegal immigrants are now banned from seeking asylum in the country, the government is struggling to control the situation. It also plans to deport migrants back to their home countries or to third countries, such as Rwanda, a plan that has been blocked by the courts.

After 2018, more than 100,000 people crossed the English Channel starting in small boats from France. Most of them are seeking asylum, with the result that the reception system for these requests cannot handle them in time. At the end of June, at least 175,000 people were still waiting for a decision from the British authorities.