- Shawn Syden
- BBC News
More than 45,000 arrived in the UK via the dangerous route last year, up from around 300 in 2018.
The British government is preparing to announce as early as next week an alternative to the hotel accommodation it currently offers to migrants.
Boats will be confirmed as an alternative to hotels. However, its exact location may not be announced for a few more weeks.
The use of two military bases in the UK will also be confirmed. The first batch of migrants is expected to move to their new homes within weeks.
Sources say each site will house 1,500 to 2,000 migrants and will initially be used for new arrivals rather than those currently housed in hotels.
The BBC has learned that more than 51,000 people are currently being accommodated in 395 hotels.
Home Secretary Zoella Braverman has indicated the government wants to end the problem of housing migrants in hotels, which she says costs around £6m a day.
Former airfields in Lincolnshire and Essex are among sites being considered for possible use to house migrants.
Private hotels are now used to house asylum seekers, as part of the UK government’s legal obligation to provide basic accommodation for people seeking help.
The government argues that options for providing private housing have been exhausted. It says it does not reflect the fair use of taxpayers’ money.
The British government has made reducing illegal immigration a key priority. It revealed measures to stop people trying to cross the English Channel in small boats.
More than 45,000 arrived in the UK via the dangerous route last year, up from around 300 in 2018.
The Illegal Immigration Bill, passed by the government earlier this month, will prevent anyone who enters the country illegally from claiming asylum on arrival or in the future.
It would place an annual cap on the number of refugees the UK can take in through “safe and legal channels” and would impose a legal duty on the country’s home secretary to swiftly detain and deport anyone arriving illegally.
A British high court has ruled that the government’s policy of deporting migrants to Rwanda is legal, but the ruling faces other challenges in the courts.
The interior minister said there is no limit to the number of migrants in Rwanda, but no flights have yet left for Rwanda.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are always aware of the unprecedented pressure on our asylum system caused by dangerous and illegal journeys into the country. We are continuing to work with state and local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options.
“The government is committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process,” he added.
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