Only 96 small boat migrants have been arrested for coming to Britain illegally

ONLY 96 small boat migrants have been arrested for coming to Britain illegally.

Yet since June — when a law to ban them came into force — more than 30,000 have arrived.

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Of those held, 78 were charged and 56 convicted, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

Another 180 were arrested on other immigration offences, the Home Office said.

Officials say many migrants duck the new Nationality and Borders Act, which makes it a crime to try to enter the country without proper permission or a good reason, by claiming to be victims of modern slavery.

It comes as Home Secretary Suella Braverman prepares to outlaw housing migrants in hotels.

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They will be sent instead to holiday parks or student digs.

Asylum seekers from safe countries like Albania would be automatically rejected under rules expected imminently.

And those awaiting a decision would face fast-track removal.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis is to urge ministers to override international law to implement the Rwanda relocation policy.

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The High Court will rule on the matter as soon as next week.

The Home Office pledged to go “further and faster” to tackle those abusing the system.

It added: “We are working tirelessly to crack down on evil people smugglers risking the lives of vulnerable people for profit, while continuing to support those in genuine need.”