The surge saw 1,072 migrants arrive, pushing the 2025 total to 32,103, according to Home Office figures.
Nigel Farage claimed the ‘invasion’ was ‘getting bigger’ (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Government, branding its border control efforts a failure and declaring: “The invasion is getting even bigger.” The withering six-word retort, posted on X on Friday, came as more than 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on September 19, dwarfing the three individuals returned to France under the Government’s new “one in, one out” deportation deal.
The surge saw 1,072 migrants arrive, pushing the 2025 total to 32,103, according to Home Office figures. The number marks a significant increase from the 22,440 recorded at the same point last year, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing small boat crossings.
The Government’s pilot scheme, launched in August with France, aims to deter smugglers by rapidly deporting illegal entrants, with the UK accepting an equal number of asylum seekers via legal routes.
However, the stark disparity—three deportations against over 1,000 arrivals—has fuelled criticism from Farage and his supporters.
Posting on X, the Reform UK leader said: “3 illegal migrants have now been returned to France but over 1,000 arrived today alone.
The party has called for mass deportations and a freeze on immigration, with Farage recently unveiling plans to remove 600,000 asylum seekers over five years if elected.
Labour, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, defends the deal as a step toward dismantling smuggling networks.
Migrants picked up at sea attempting to cross the English Channel from France (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hailed the first deportation on Thursday—an Indian national flown to Paris—as “an important first step to securing our borders.”
The policy allows the UK to detain Channel crossers and return them to France within two weeks, provided legal challenges are overcome.
However, critics point to judicial interventions, such as the High Court’s temporary block on an Eritrean man’s deportation due to trafficking concerns, as evidence of systemic flaws.
Social media reactions to Farage’s post were polarised. Supporters like Frank @FrankHighgate demanded mass deportations, while James D Magee @jamesdavidmagee accused Farage of creating the crisis through Brexit, which ended the UK’s participation in the EU’s Dublin Regulation.
That agreement previously allowed the return of asylum seekers to the first safe European country they entered. Others, including Sandy Tregent @SandyofSuffolk, warned that at the current rate, deporting all illegal migrants could take over 300 years, calling the deal a “shambles.”
The Government’s £500m investment in French coastal patrols and the deployment of 300 additional National Crime Agency officers have failed to stem the tide, with crossings peaking during favourable weather.
Public petitions, such as one by Rupert Lowe @RupertLowe10, advocate for offshore detention camps, reflecting growing frustration. Meanwhile, the BBC reported that 88% of irregular arrivals in the year to June 2025 came via the Channel, with Afghans and Eritreans among the largest groups.
Labour faces mounting pressure as Reform UK capitalizes on the issue ahead of future elections.
Clacton MP Mr Farage’s rhetoric, including his “invasion” claim, has drawn accusations of exaggeration from opponents like the Liberal Democrats, who condemned his mass deportation plans as a violation of human rights.
However, with 30,164 crossings recorded by September 8, the policy’s critics argue it offers little deterrent, a view underscored by the latest figures.
As the debate intensifies, Starmer’s administration insists the scheme needs time to prove its worth.
However, the Government’s border strategy appears to be facing its sternest test yet.
