French authorities have imposed entry bans on ten British nationals affiliated with the far-right organization ‘Raise the Colours,’ prohibiting them from entering or remaining on French territory. The French Interior Ministry announced the measure on Wednesday, citing the group’s systematic campaign to locate and destroy small vessels utilized by migrants attempting to cross the English Channel.
The ban, formally enacted on Tuesday, targets identified militants within the movement who have conducted operations on French soil. According to official statements, these activists have not only engaged in the physical destruction of migrant boats but have also conducted propaganda activities along the northern French coastline. These efforts specifically targeted British citizens, encouraging them to join the movement’s ranks with the explicit goal of halting migration flows.
The ministry’s announcement did not disclose the identities of the banned individuals but emphasized they were recognized as active participants in the group’s operations. This development occurs against the backdrop of increasingly strained Franco-British relations regarding cross-Channel migration, which has emerged as a particularly contentious political issue in the United Kingdom.
Recent statistics from the UK Home Office reveal that over 41,000 individuals undertook the perilous Channel crossing in small boats last year. While this figure represents a decrease from the 2022 record of more than 45,000 migrants, it indicates an increase compared to 2024 numbers, maintaining pressure on both nations to address this complex humanitarian and political challenge.