Our experts explain the statistics and language around small boat crossings into the UK, as well as what needs to change for immigration policies to succeed. Why small boat arrivals have declinedMihnea Cuibus, Senior Researcher, The Migration Observatory at The University of OxfordSmall boat arrivals have declined in 2026. It has scaled up existing enforcement efforts and reached a deal to return some people who arrive by small boat to France. Simultaneously, Burnham’s stance is a reflection of the very limited role that the EU currently plays in managing small boat crossings in the Channel. A second positive step would be to give asylum seekers the right to work after six months in the asylum system.