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More on KentOnline
This is the heartbreaking moment a baby is lifted from a dinghy having endured a perilous journey across the world's busiest shipping lane.
Wrapped in a body suit and hat, the young child was taken from the small boat at Dover harbour by Border Force staff this afternoon.
The moment the baby is lifted to safety Video: Chris Johnson
At one point, the Border Force colleague lifts the little one's hat so they can see better, and the adorable baby offers a happy smile to a waving member of staff in return.
It is understood the child crossed the English Channel today as part of a group coming to the UK to seek asylum.
The Home Office confirmed they dealt with seven events involving 113 people.
The French authorities also prevented four attempted crossings overnight and this morning involving an estimated 72 people.
By March it was reported that more than 1,000 asylum seekers had crossed the English Channel in small boats since the beginning of 2021.
This is more than double the figure for the same time last year.
It comes as new rules have been introduced by the Home Office which make asylum claims inadmissible where people have travelled through safe countries to get to the UK through illegal routes.
The plans have been questioned by experts, and some refugees living in the UK fear the proposals could “punish” people seeking safety.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "More than 2,000 people have been prevented from making dangerous crossings so far this year thanks to close work with France and we have also secured more than 60 small boat related prosecutions since the start of 2020.
“This is a significant challenge and there is more work to be done.
"Our New Plan for Immigration will break the business model of people smugglers who put lives at risk by facilitating dangerous journeys into the UK and overhaul our broken asylum system."
