DOZENS of migrants landed at an Algarve beach loved by Brits – but were immediately detained and ordered to leave in a stark contrast to the UK.
A wooden boat, carrying 38 people including seven children, arrived on Friday evening near the town of Vila do Bispo, Portuguese authorities said.
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Footage showed the migrants from Morocco walking out of the boat and getting on the beach.
Beachgoers as well as locals watched in surprise as the dehydrated and hungry migrants reached the shore.
However, they were quickly rounded up by cops near Burgau, a part of the Algarve coast popular with tourists.
Three of the children, aged 12 months, eight and ten, were taken to a paediatric emergency clinic in Faro.
A few more men were taken to a hospital in Portimão. They were all soon discharged.
One of the Moroccan nationals on the boat claimed that four people had died during their five days at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, Daily Mail reports.
Authorities said: “The migrants were in a debilitated state and in need of medical care, showing signs of dehydration and hypothermia.”
They were given food kits containing biscuits, juice, milk, bread and daily needs products.
Public broadcaster RTP reported that the vessel had departed from Morocco and spent six days at sea before reaching Portugal.
However, Portuguese authorities wasted no time in taking action against the migrants under their no-nonsense policy on illegal immigration.
Out of the 38 people, 31 were taken to a court on the very next day, where a judge gave them 20 days to voluntarily return to Morocco.
The judge ordered that they will face forceful deportation if they fail to board flights back home.
Portugal‘s Navy said Saturday it has increased patrols along the country’s southern coast following the arrival of the migrant boat.
It is a stark contrast to the UK, where small boat crossings have surged past 50,000 – one illegal migrant every 11 minutes – under Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing enormous pressure to tackle illegal immigration in Britain.
Home Office statistics show 49,797 have crossed the Channel since July 5 2024, when Sir Keir Starmer took charge with a promise to get a grip on our borders.
That is expected to hit 50,000 as soon as today after more boatloads were picked up in the shipping lanes yesterday.
Dozens of illegal migrants — who mainly appeared to be young men — were seen disembarking Border Force cutters at Dover.
FRENCH STOP JUST 15%
EXCLUSIVE by JULIA ATHERLEY, HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
FRENCH police stopped just 15 per cent of small boat crossings last week despite a landmark treaty.
Home Office data shows 227 of 1,486 migrants were prevented from coming to the UK.
Around 730 of the 1,200 French officers patrolling its northern border are paid for by UK taxpayers.
Labour’s new “one-in, one-out” deal — signed by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron — also came into force last week.
The Government has so far refused to release the number of people detained, and none have yet been sent back to France.
Another 435 people — mainly young men — were picked up by Border Force on Saturday.
Smugglers are expected to cash in on good weather by sending thousands more across the Channel in the coming week.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the new deal “will have no deterrent effect whatsoever”.
A Home Office spokesman said a “serious plan” is in place to take down people-smuggling gangs.
The 50,000 arrivals are the equivalent of a population the size of Durham, with the majority in taxpayer-funded accommodation.
It comes as No10 denied its flagship plan to “smash the gangs” had flopped.
The PM’s spokesman said: “There’s clearly much more to do. These gangs had a six-year head start to establish their networks.”
From election day to the end of 2024, 23,242 migrants arrived to enjoy bed and board on the taxpayer.
In 2025 — so far — another 21,117 have crossed, up a staggering 56 per cent compared to 2024 and a shocking 75 per cent higher than in 2023.
Labour has vowed to end the use of asylum hotels by the 2029 election, in part by moving migrants to cheaper forms of taxpayer-funded accommodation.
But just days ago, Sir Keir sparked uproar by claiming there was plenty of spare housing for both illegal migrants and homeless Brits.
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