Image source, PA Media
Image caption,A Border Force vessel brings a group of men into Dover
In the first few days of May, seven small boats carrying around 350 migrants were intercepted in the English Channel, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Some have claimed that the arrival shows migrants are undeterred by the government's Rwanda plan, which aims to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel and crack down on people smuggling gangs.
More than 3,000 people arrived in in March, compared with 831 last March. More than 4,850 have made the crossing so far this year.
Last year, 28,526 people are known to have crossed in small boats - up from 8,404 in 2020. This year's figure is set to be much higher, according to Border Force union officials.
About 5% were men aged over 40, 7% were women over 18, and 12% were children under 18 (of whom three-quarters were male).
Recently, there has been a greater mix of nationalities making the crossing. Iranians made up 30% of small boat arrivals last year, while 21% were Iraqis, 11% Eritreans and 9% Syrians, says the Home Office.
Previously, Iranians made up the vast majority of arrivals - 80% in 2018, and 66% in 2019.
The five-year trial would see some asylum seekers sent to the central African country.
It is thought to be aimed mostly at single young migrants who arrive through "illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods", such as on small boats or lorries.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "anyone entering the UK illegally" since 1 January would fall under the scheme, with no limit on numbers.
Rwanda would take responsibility for those sent there and has said migrants would be "entitled to full protection under Rwandan law" with equal access to employment and services.
Many migrants claim asylum once they reach the UK. Asylum seekers hope to receive refugee status, meaning they can stay.
They must prove they cannot return home because of fears of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Their asylum application can include their partner and any children under 18, if they are also in the UK.
Decisions are made by a caseworker. They consider things such as an asylum seeker's country of origin, or evidence of discrimination. This is supposed to be done within six months, although most wait longer.
Anyone granted refugee status can remain in the UK with their dependants for five years. After that, they can apply to settle in the UK.
People who do not qualify for refugee status may still be allowed to stay -if they are a victim of trafficking or at risk of the death penalty, for instance. How long depends on their situation.
New powers - under the Nationality and Borders Bill - would make it easier for the UK to send refugees abroad for asylum claims to be processed. The bill is expected to become law shortly.
But the country must be "safe", and the UK is a signatory to two key international treaties guaranteeing refugees' rights:
So if there was a risk a person would be mistreated in Rwanda then they could not be sent there.
Mr Johnson described Rwanda as being one of world's safest countries - though last year the UK expressed concern at "continued restrictions to civil and political rights and media freedom".
Furthermore, human rights groups have criticised Rwanda for its treatment of government critics. They point to the ill-treatment in detention of opposition figures, and allegations of disappearances and suspicious deaths.
The voluntary scheme is meant to allow those taking part to resettle in third countries, return to their home countries or to stay in Rwanda.
The UK is investing £120m into the "economic development and growth of Rwanda" as part of the deal.
The government said it would also fund costs, which would be similar to those incurred in the UK.
The Times has reported a cost of £20,000-30,000 for each migrant sent to Rwanda.
Home Secretary Priti Patel took personal responsibility to push through the policy after being warned there was not enough evidence to show it gave value for money.
The Home Office said the UK asylum system currently costs £1.5bn a year, with more than £4.7m a day spent on hotels to accommodate homeless migrants.
Gillian Triggs, the assistant secretary general at the United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, said the scheme might work as a deterrent, but there were "much more legally effective ways of achieving the same outcome".
The Refugee Council said it was "appalled by the government's cruel and nasty decision".
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England, said "the principle must stand the judgment of God, and it cannot."
However, the UK's government promised to take back control of Britain's borders after Brexit, and Home Secretary Priti Patel has argued no one else is offering solutions to the refugee problem.
The Royal Navy will take charge of responding to small boats in the Channel - alongside Border Force.
There will be an extra £50m funding for this.
Migrants arriving in the UK will be sent to processing centres across the country, and there will also be a new asylum reception centre in Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire.
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,People thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, aboard a Border Force vessel
The Home Office has confirmed that turnaround tactics are not currently in use - those were the plans proposed last year for pushing small boats back into French waters. The policy was withdrawn before legal challenges came to court.
The UK has also been paying French authorities to stop boats leaving in the first place, including £54m promised in 2021-22.
In England and Wales, government statistics show there were 41 convictions for helping asylum seekers to enter the UK between 2017-2020, compared to 137 prosecutions in the same period.
Last September, over 50 suspected criminal gang members were arrested in relation to small boat crossings, according to Home Office figures.