#Calais and clandestine migration into the UK: Concerns and context
The route between Calais and Dover is hugely significant for the UK both in practical terms – as a major route in and out of Britain for people and goods - and symbolically as both a gateway to Britain and a barrier that protects it (Readman 2014).
Footage of a group of migrants attempting to force their way onto a passenger ferry at Calais, with the intention of entering the UK unlawfully, some possibly to claim asylum later on, created something of a media sensation last month (September 2014), reigniting debates about migration and asylum issues in the UK, France and the wider EU.
This commentary will consider four key aspects of the current situation in Calais: the background, definitions of ’illegal’ immigrants and asylum seekers, existing data and the role of policies.
▻http://www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/commentary/calais-and-clandestine-migration-uk-concerns-and-context