By GINA KALSI and RORY TINGLE HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
Hundreds more migrants arrived in Dover after crossing the Channel by small boat yesterday just days after the government’s Rwanda policy was ruled ‘unlawful’.
A total of 356 asylum seekers were intercepted by Border Force officials from seven boats and escorted into Dover, Kent, throughout the day.
Around 50 asylum seekers were picked up from an inflatable dinghy off the coast of Dover and brought to shore on Border Force catamaran Hurricane shortly before 10am.
The mostly male group, who were clad in hooded jackets and hats after battling chilly conditions at sea, could be seen removing their orange lifejackets as they were escorted along the former jetfoil to be taken for processing.
One man appeared to be limping as he linked arms with another migrant.
At least 40 more asylum seekers were escorted into the port on a Border Force catamaran shortly after midday, while a similar-sized group were brought in on another of the agency’s vessels around an hour later.
They appeared cold, wrapping red blankets around their heads and shoulders as they disembarked the boat.
A total of 356 asylum seekers were intercepted by Border Force officials from seven boats and escorted into Dover, Kent, throughout the day
Four more dinghies carrying migrants were intercepted throughout the day.
This comes as the Supreme Court concluded unanimously that the Rwanda scheme to deport arrivals immediately would break the law.
President of the Supreme Court Lord Reed said there would be a risk of genuine asylum seekers being returned by Rwanda to the home country they fled from.
The decision immediately sparked Tory demands to loosen protections under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) so the policy can go ahead.
At the time, Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson said the Government should simply ‘ignore the laws’ and ‘just put the planes in the air now and send them to Rwanda’.
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