Britain, France pin hopes on "taxi boat" plan to tackle illegal migrant surge

At a filthy illegal migrant camp near Dunkirk, Reuters spoke with several illegal migrants who were unaware of the new proposal. They said it wouldn't stop them from trying to cross.

Israrullah Lodin, 26, left Afghanistan in 2021 after his family's work with the US army irked the Taliban. He had failed to cross three times; twice he was stopped by police and once his boat had problems. Lodin dreamed of working in a UK fulfilment warehouse. Nothing would stop him from getting there.

"We are not afraid to die," he said. "I have to reach my destination."

Nisarahmad Afghan, 23, had been an illegal migrant almost all his adult life, having left his home region of Nangarhar four years ago. He had made two failed attempts to cross, both foiled by police.

"Until I succeed, I will keep trying," he said. "I've passed through many dangerous roads. I will pass this one too."

(Additional reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Marco Trujillo, Manuel Ausloos, Abdul Saboor, Gonzalo Fuentes in Calais; Michael Holden in London; editing by Richard Lough and Philippa Fletcher)