People crossing Channel on small boats are ‘essentially asylum shoppers’, Jenrick says

During the report stage debate on the illegal migration bill today, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said that those travelling from France on “small boats” are “essentially asylum shoppers”.

Mr Jenrick said: “The vast majority of those individuals coming on small boats are coming from an obvious place of safety in France with a fully functioning asylum system. So they’re choosing to make that additional crossing. They are essentially asylum shoppers, even if they ultimately came from a place of danger”.