Net migration hit 435,000 in the year to December, down from a record high of 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

But the escalating Channel crisis has also brought Britain’s lax border controls into sharp focus.

The pollsters said: “Our research shows that almost half of Britons (47%) think there are more migrants staying in the UK illegally rather than legally, including fully a third of the public (32%) who think the illegal figure is “much higher”.

“If the British public dramatically overestimate the number of illegal migrants to the UK to the extent that they think that most migrants are here illegally, then the possibility arises that, in reality, those who support removals don’t want to see the bulk of migrants removed.”

But the polling revealed a deeper insight into many Brits’ fears on immigration.

The research showed how 91% of Brits who support mass deportation proposals believe migrants claiming benefits should be ordered to leave.

This is higher than the 90% who believe Channel migrants should be deported.

The YouGov poll also shows how 85% of people want workers who came to the UK without a valid visa to work in unskilled jobs to be removed.

YouGov said: “Unsurprisingly, those who want to see mass deportations almost universally want to see removals of those who come to the UK to claim benefits (91%), small boat migrants (90%), and those coming without work visas to work in unskilled jobs (85%).”

The poll shows the pressure Labour is under to slash migration, with less than one in four supporting current immigration levels and only 13% are in favour of a new influx of migrants.

Some 948,000 migrants moved to Britain last year, which will increase pressure on the NHS, housing stocks, schools and transport infrastructure.

Tighter controls on overseas workers and foreign students led to a fall in net migration of 435,000 to 431,000, down from a staggering 866,000 in the year to December 2023.

Long-term immigration fell below one million for the first time in around three years. This was driven by a sharp fall in the number of non-EU nationals moving to the UK for work.

This total fell by 108,000, or 49 per cent, in the year ending December. Student visa arrivals fell by 17 per cent.

That was estimated to be 948,000 in the year ending December 2024, down by almost a third from 1,326,000 in the previous 12 months.

There were larger falls in dependents coming to the UK, with study dependents down by 86 per cent, amounting to 105,000 people and work dependents dropping by 35 per cent, representing 81,000 people.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to reduce net migration amid a growing electoral threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Measures in Labour’s plan, dubbed “Restoring control over the immigration system”, included:

– Increasing the threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa to graduate-level roles.

– Revoking visas for foreign thugs, shoplifters and sex offenders as the number of offenders eligible for deportation is expanded.

– Reforming citizenship rules by making migrants wait 10 years rather than five to apply for indefinite leave to remain, although workers who significantly contribute to society, such as nurses, doctors and engineers, could be fast-tracked.

– Requiring a higher standard of English across all immigration routes, including, for the first time, adult dependents required to display a basic understanding of the language.

– Closing the social care visa to foreign workers, amid fears it is being abused as a back door route into the UK.

The Home Office has predicted its changes will lead to 100,000 fewer people coming to the UK, meaning net migration could settle at around 240,000-250,000 by the end of this Parliament in 2029.