A group of 38 asylum seekers who landed on an exclusive Algarve beach frequented by wealthy British tourists face deportation from Portugal within weeks, in stark contrast to the UK where small boat arrivals under Labour have soared past 50,000 with migrants housed in hotels for months.
The Moroccan nationals, including 25 men, six women and seven children, arrived at Boca do Rio beach near Burgau on Friday after a perilous five-day voyage across 250 miles of Atlantic Ocean in a cramped 15ft wooden boat. The landing site sits just four miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007.
Portuguese authorities demonstrated their tough stance on illegal immigration by immediately detaining the group and securing court orders for their removal within 20 days. A judge in Silves ruled on Saturday that if they fail to leave voluntarily, they face forced deportation within 60 days, with all 38 now held in secure detention centres in Lisbon, Faro and Porto.
Swift Portuguese Response Contrasts UK Approach
The speed of Portugal’s response has thrown Britain’s struggling immigration system into sharp relief. Whilst the Algarve migrants face imminent deportation, official figures suggest UK small boat crossings under Sir Keir Starmer have reached 49,797 since Labour took power, with the symbolic 50,000 mark expected to be passed when data is released today.
António Leitão Amaro, Portugal’s Minister of the Presidency, praised officials for dealing with the migrants swiftly whilst treating them with “dignity.” He stated: “At the moment there is no request for asylum and it is not worth speculating on the subject.
The contrast with Britain could not be starker. Under Labour’s watch, migrants arriving on UK shores are routinely housed in four-star hotels at taxpayers’ expense, free to come and go whilst their claims are processed over many months. Rob Bates from the Centre of Migration Control warned Britain could see 50,000 crossings by year’s end, declaring the crisis “out of hand.
Harrowing Atlantic Journey Claims Lives
One survivor claimed four people died during the treacherous Atlantic crossing from Morocco. The group arrived in a “debilitated state,” according to Portuguese police, suffering from severe dehydration and hypothermia. Three children aged 12 months, eight and ten required emergency paediatric care in Faro, whilst a man was hospitalised in Portimão.
Tourists and locals watched in amazement as the exhausted migrants stumbled ashore on the idyllic beach. The group were temporarily housed in a sports hall in Vila do Bispo near Sagres, where they received food kits containing biscuits, juice, milk, bread, pâté and water, along with basic hygiene products.
Major Ilídio Barreiros of Portugal’s GNR Coastal and Border Control Unit confirmed: “We presume they may have originated in North Africa, directly in Morocco, since all the identified citizens are Moroccan.”
Portugal’s Zero-Tolerance Policy in Action
Portugal’s centre-right minority government has maintained a firm line on economic migration from safe countries. None of the Algarve arrivals attempted to claim asylum, knowing applications based on race, religion or political persecution would likely fail as Portugal considers Morocco a safe nation.
Rute Silva, mayor of Vila do Bispo, acknowledged the human element whilst supporting enforcement: “We have a law, and it has to be complied with, because they entered our country illegally. But these people want a better life, they will not risk their own lives and those of their families for anything.
The Portuguese Navy and National Maritime Authority immediately reinforced patrols along the Algarve coast following Friday’s landing. A joint statement confirmed increased “surveillance and control of maritime areas, through patrols at sea and on land” to detect and intercept vessels attempting illegal entry.
UK’s ‘Smash the Gangs’ Strategy Falters
Meanwhile, fresh tragedy struck in the English Channel this morning as a young woman drowned attempting to board a boat near Gravelines in northern France. Extraordinary photographs showed dozens of migrants rushing into the sea towards dinghies as crossings continued unabated.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp declared Labour’s migrant policy “in tatters,” stating: “The boats are flooding over in record numbers and 2025 so far has been the worst in history. Labour cancelled our removals deterrent after the General Election, just days before it was due to start, and they have lost control of our borders as a result.
Current figures show small boat arrivals under Starmer average 120 per day, significantly higher than the 86 daily arrivals during Rishi Sunak’s final year and double Boris Johnson’s rate of 58 per day. Since July’s election, approximately 44,069 migrants have reached British shores via small boats.
Rare Atlantic Route Highlights Desperation
Friday’s landing marked the largest group to arrive on the Algarve coast in recent years, with officials noting Portugal remains an uncommon destination for North African migrants. The treacherous Atlantic route typically sees vessels head for Spain’s southern coast or attempt the Mediterranean crossing to Italy and Greece.
In 2020, Portugal’s then Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita stated it was premature to discuss a new migration route compared to “tens of thousands of arrivals in Spain.” Historical data shows just 140 migrants landed on the Algarve coast between 2019 and 2025, making Friday’s arrival particularly significant.
The Daily Mail revealed similar swift action in Spain last weekend, where nine Moroccan men who landed at Castell de Ferro near Malaga faced comparable treatment. Video footage showed tourists, including off-duty police officers, rugby-tackling and detaining several men on the beach.
As Portugal demonstrates its capacity for rapid deportation proceedings, Britain’s inability to control its borders becomes increasingly apparent. With over 170,000 Channel crossings since 2018 – roughly equivalent to Oxford’s population – the UK’s migration crisis shows no signs of abating despite Starmer’s promises to “smash the gangs.
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