The scene in Petit-Fort-Philippe, Gravelines, is desolate. Desperate people flee from clouds of tear gas fired by French police while attempting to cross the English Channel toward the United Kingdom.
In the dunes of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the human trafficking machinery does not stop. Smugglers dig up inflatable boats and assemble engines in record time to transport people like Amad (Iraq) and Omar (Yemen), who are part of a group of 30 asylum seekers awaiting a crossing opportunity.
Tension has escalated drastically in recent months. According to recent data, police interventions in northern France have grown significantly, reflecting a climate of increasing hostility toward migrants.
| Indicator | Variation / Data |
|---|---|
| Police interventions (Apr-Aug 2026) | +40% compared to the previous year |
| Arrivals in small boats to Europe | -39% compared to the previous year |
| People transferred by the 'one in, one out' scheme | Approx. 1,500 people |
The end of the controversial “one in, one out” scheme —which returned one person to France for every refugee legally admitted to the United Kingdom— has reopened the debate on crisis management. While the British Home Office refers to its resettlement plans, organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières UK denounce the physical and psychological damage caused by state violence.
Given this panorama, alternative proposals emerge to break the cycle of danger and exploitation:
- Travel visa for refugees: Proposed by the PCS union and Care4Calais to allow legal transit.
- Elimination of intermediaries: The goal is to nullify the need to resort to human traffickers.
- External monitoring: Far-right agitators maintain constant surveillance over the area, increasing social tension.
Source: The Guardian