France and UK Crack Down on Illegal Immigration, Belgium Concerned by Shift in Smuggling Routes

At dawn, smugglers dig makeshift inflatable boats out of the sand and load them with illegal migrants heading for the UK. Recently, more smuggling activities have shifted into Belgium, causing strong concern among local authorities. AFP reported that Belgian government data shows more than 400 migrants have been intercepted this year attempting to cross the English Channel, whereas there were no such records in 2025. Local officials say this is a 'spillover effect' caused by strict crackdowns in neighboring France. Jean-Marie Dedecker, mayor of the Belgian coastal town of Middelkerke, said: 'France's attitude toward migrants has become stricter. They tightened controls, so they came to Belgium.' For years, migrants wishing to live in the UK gathered in camps along the coast of Calais, France, before attempting to smuggle themselves across. Previously, Belgium did not see such waves of migration, mainly because it is about 80 kilometers from the UK, whereas the crossing from Calais is only about 30 kilometers, making smuggling from Belgium clearly riskier. However, as France stepped up enforcement, the situation changed. Part of the reason is a new agreement signed by Paris and London in April aimed at stopping illegal border crossings. Dedecker pointed out that he has been observing smuggling activities on local beaches for months: 'They bury clothes, boats, motors, etc., under the dunes.' Before sunrise, the boats are inflated, and the migrants jump in and depart. According to the local police chief, these boats can be packed with 15 to 20 people, sometimes stopping briefly in France to pick up more passengers before continuing to the UK. The Belgian Ministry of Asylum and Migration stated that they are working to curb this wave of illegal migration through arrests. Most of these migrants are young men from Sudan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Police also said they would strengthen patrols while calling on authorities to invest more resources in monitoring the coastline.