The Royal Navy has been tasked with stopping EVERY migrant trying to cross the Channel from getting into Britain.
But critics say that is such a tall order it will be impossible to deliver - and should not be the Navy’s job anyway.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has been getting a roasting from Boris Johnson after the number of migrants known to have made the dangerous crossing trebled to 28,431 last year.
The PM has now given the MoD the job of sorting out the mess under Operation Isotrope.
Armed Forces minister James Heappey said: “Operation Isotrope aims to prevent all uncontrolled arrival of migrants, with all migrant vessels intercepted before, or as, they land on UK shores.”
But a former immigration adviser said: “This is just not feasible. And it’s an unrealistic expectation to place on the Navy.”
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey added: “The Navy will do a professional job but cutting down migrant crossings depends on sorting out the wider system.
“The military are there to protect the nation, not to help out failing Tory ministers.”
The MoD is still keeping under wraps exactly what the Navy will do in the Channel saying only that it will take the lead in “surveillance, detection and interception.”
Mr Healey said that defence ministers must be at the negotiating table with the French if small boat crossings are to be stopped.
But Ms Patel and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are keeping that role for themselves.
Mr Healey added: “To back up the Navy’s new command role in the Channel, the Government needs to do serious work to secure proper security cooperation with France to break the smuggling gangs and prevent more deaths.”
On 24 November last year at least 27 people died as their boat sank.
Arrivals peaked that month despite the cold and at least 6,869 people reached the UK.
In 2020, a total of 8,417 people crossed the Channel in small boats.
The new Nationality and Borders Bill will make it a criminal offence to enter the UK illegally and introduce life sentences for people-smugglers.
