Britain wants to accommodate migrants on these ships. In the WhatsApp dispute, the British government threatens Johnson with the withdrawal of funds

Despite international criticism of the crackdown on unwanted migrants, the UK wants to place even more people temporarily on ships. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced this in Dover on Monday.

Two more ships will be purchased to carry a total of 1,000 people, Sunak said. A first barge will soon anchor off the port of Portland in southern England. “With courage and determination, the government can solve this problem,” Sunak said. “And we are using all the resources at our disposal.”

Sunak: My plan with the migrants is working

The British government wants strict laws to prevent the entry of unwanted migrants. Critics say the project amounts to an asylum ban: anyone arriving in the UK via undesirable routes should be detained and deported as quickly as possible to Rwanda or another country deemed safe – regardless of refugee status.

Sunak claimed his plan worked against what he called “illegal” migration. Between January and May, the number of irregular entries fell – for the first time in years. Observers point out that the drop may also be due to bad weather and that more people usually make the dangerous crossing in the summer months. There is now a repatriation agreement with Albania. A lot of migrants came from there last year. (sda/dpa)