In 2025, over 40,000 migrants crossed the Channel, prompting the UK to strengthen border laws and return migrants under a deal with France.

In 2025, the UK had the second-highest number of Channel crossings on record, with over 40,000 migrants arriving—13% more than in 2024—despite a late-year slowdown and a 28-day period with no crossings. The average number of people per boat increased to 62. The Labour government, which took office in July 2024 promising to disrupt smuggling networks, passed the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Act, which gave law enforcement new powers and created criminal offenses against smugglers. It also proposed Danish-inspired asylum reforms, such as temporary status with 30-month reviews and a 20-year wait for permanent settlement, which have yet to be implemented. The government maintains a "one in, one out" return policy with France, returning 193 migrants while allowing 195 legal entries. Opposition parties, including Reform UK and the Conservatives, criticized the approach and urged the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, which the government has rejected in favor of international cooperation and treaty reform discussions.