More Than 200 Unaccompanied Migrant Children Arrive by Boat in Dover Monthly

More than 200 unaccompanied migrant children are arriving by boat in Dover each month, placing a considerable financial burden on the British taxpayer. Figures released by Kent County Council reveal that since January, 2,182 child migrants have made the 21-mile crossing from France alone, averaging over 200 per month. While a small number are smuggled in lorries, the majority undertake the perilous journey by boat.

The cost associated with housing and supporting an unaccompanied migrant child is substantial, with Home Office figures indicating an expense of approximately £143 per night, equating to roughly £52,000 annually per child. If a child were to remain in state care for 15 years until adulthood, the total cost could exceed £780,000.

Observations at Dover have noted young children, including babies, being brought ashore by Border Force officers without any accompanying parents. The camps on the outskirts of the French port of Dunkirk, described as sprawling, squalid, and overflowing, are often the staging grounds for these journeys. Migrants, including children who appear to be alone, reside in tents and use fires for warmth, with lifejackets readily available for purchase as they prepare for the crossing.

These individuals arrive at the camps from various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, and European countries like Germany and Sweden, from which they may be facing deportation. They are drawn to northern France by the promise of traffickers' boat crossings to Britain.

The smugglers operate with significant efficiency, organizing their operations to transport migrants, increasingly including children and babies, across the Channel. Reports indicate a going rate of £1,500 per head for these boat crossings, with prices potentially increasing due to demand. A backlog of approximately 4,000 migrants was noted in the Dunkirk camp, with many planning to travel to the UK.

Under human rights law, a child arriving alone in Britain is entitled to state care until the age of 18, with potential further financial assistance and housing support for an additional seven years. Deportation is not possible until they reach 25.

Past legal cases have highlighted the complexities of these situations. One instance involved two young boys who arrived alone by boat, allegedly separated from their parents during a chaotic departure. While placed in foster care in the UK, their parents sought reunification, leading to a legal battle. The Home Office argued successfully that reuniting them in the UK, rather than France, could set a precedent for using lone children as 'anchors' for family members to follow. Ultimately, the two boys were returned to their parents in Calais after lengthy legal proceedings.

Upon arrival in Dover, unaccompanied child migrants are typically taken to the Kent Intake Unit for initial care by social workers. Within two days, they are placed with foster parents across the country, incurring significant costs for taxpayers.