Eastbourne Sea Rescue: Government Confirms 103 Unexpected Migrants' Arrival On Channel Coast

The government's confirmed immigration officers seen in Eastbourne on Saturday (January 9) were part of a weekend operation to deal with 103 people who unexpectedly approached the Channel coastline.

H.M. Coastguard earlier said it helped to lead a search and rescue operation for about 30 people, south of Beachy Head on Saturday.

The Home Office this morning (January 11) refused to comment on the status of rescued individuals.

In a statement, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Court, Chris Philp, put forward the government's line on its management of migrants who arrive in small boats, often without immigration paperwork, and claiming asylum.

"People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making a dangerous and illegally-facilitated crossing. 

"The Government has taken substantial steps to tackle this unacceptable problem of illegal migration.

"These efforts have contributed to a 70% reduction in crossings since September on fair-weather days, by direct intervention on the French beaches.

"This means that we have been able to change the patterns of crossings that resulted in a surge of small boat activity 2018 and 2019.

"Post EU exit, this Government will work to fix the broken asylum system.

"Legislative changes to the law are being made to enable cases to be treated as inadmissible if they have travelled through a safe country.

"The Government will continue to seek to return those with no legal right to remain in the UK."

The Home Office added that the government claimed it was working to provide more support for people genuinely fleeing persecution.

But officials also pledged to make it easier to return people who don't need protection within the UK.