Countries across Europe are clamping down on immigration with asylum seekers now hoping to settle in the UK.
Migrants are gathering in Calais hoping to reach the UK (Image: Getty)
Hundreds of migrants are now living in Calais in the hope of moving to the UK after being told to leave countries across Europe. The migrants have been expelled from countries such as Germany, Austria, France and Italy, but hope to be able to settle in Britain.
A number of European countries have pursued a hard line on immigration following public pressure. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has extended border controls and increased deportations. Meanwhile, in Austria, the anti-immigration Operation Fox has resulted in an average of 35 migrants leaving the nation every day. However, these migrants are now reportedly trying to stay in the UK.
As reported by The Times, a charity source who works in the Grand-Synthe camp, a commune located near Dunkirk, said numbers have risen over the last year. They explained how migrants had been denied residency elsewhere in Europe and are now applying for asylum in the UK.
One man, who gave his name only as Mohammad, said he had lived in Germany for 13 years but the country “wouldn’t grant me residency because I’m from Iraq”. He added: “And so many people told me I should come here.”
Mohammad also stressed that he would not stay in France, describing the situation as a “disaster”.
He explained: “Here it is a disaster … The showers are difficult. The food is bad. The weather here is very bad.”
Numbers have risen at the Grand-Synthe camp near Dunkirk (Image: Getty)
The man added: “If we go there, hopefully we’ll get residency in England or something. I need my life. I can start from scratch, you know? I want to get married there, and get my job back. I want to be happy in England.”
Meanwhile, Haitham Mohamed, 27, from Kirkuk, Iraq, had been expelled from Austria after living there for three years. His girlfriend and child still live there, however, and he blamed the Austrian politicians for the situation.
He explained: “We wanted to get married. But they told me no, you must leave (Austria). I hadn’t done anything wrong … but they just don’t want more people, even if they work.”
Sir Keir Starmer recently admitted that his “one in, one out” deal with France to stop small boat crossings has been a failure. Only four migrants have been removed from the UK under the agreement so far, with the Prime Minister urging that “we need to ramp that up”.
He told GB News: “The returns agreement with France is important because we need to establish that if you come by boat, you will be returned to France. I accept the numbers are low. We had to prove the concept and prove that it could work. We’ve now done that. But now we need to ramp that up.”
However, the impact of Nigel Farage is reportedly being felt in Calais. Amanuel, 22, from Eritrea, said that TikTok videos had been circulating within the camp showing the Reform UK leader calling for deportations.
