Brexit is being identified as a key factor influencing the increase in small boat crossings, as shared with Members of Parliament. Testifying before a bipartisan committee, it was revealed that individuals entering the country unlawfully express a reluctance to be “Dublin-ed,” referring to the Dublin Convention, which previously allowed the UK to send back asylum seekers to the EU. Meghan Benton, the director for Global Programs at the Migration Policy Institute, highlighted that Brexit has introduced a “new dimension” to the situation.
Following Brexit, the UK did not establish an alternative agreement regarding the Dublin Convention, leading to the current situation where asylum seekers can be returned to the first EU member state they arrived in. However, efforts are underway in the UK and France to implement a ‘one-in-one-out’ returns system to discourage these crossings.
During a session with the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms. Benton mentioned the challenges in obtaining concrete evidence on whether Brexit has directly influenced small boat crossings. She emphasized the lack of comprehensive information about the demographic of people in northern France, including their asylum claims or return orders. Some individuals have expressed concerns about being ‘Dublin-ed,’ indicating a perception that the UK offers additional opportunities for asylum.
Critics argue that the absence of a returns agreement with Europe has benefitted smuggling networks. French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that Brexit has hindered the UK’s ability to deport individuals, potentially encouraging more crossings.
In political discourse, Keir Starmer referred to the small boats as “Farage boats,” criticizing Nigel Farage for his misguided claims during the Brexit referendum in 2016. There is a consensus among experts that intensifying the ‘one-in-one-out’ return arrangement with France is crucial to dissuade further crossings. Dr. Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory highlighted the importance of increasing the likelihood of individuals being returned to reduce the incentives for risky Channel crossings.