Mother Nature is the one who calls the shots in the northern France migrant camps.

Many people who live in tent villages wait to board small boats to the UK.

Today it is the weather that has caused some of these crossings to be disrupted, rather than an announcement by Westminster.

Izzet, 54 years old, tells me that she is going because her and my son live here.

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He is unaware, like most refugees and migrants we encounter, of the planned crackdown.

He explained that his wife has been diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

He is worried that she will die before he learns if his visa application was granted.

“If you travel on small boats, you might die. If you are caught in the UK, you could be deported and not be allowed to return. Will you still try? I wonder.

He replies, “Yes,” and he says, “I’m tired.” How long have we been apart from our son and wife? How long have we been apart? “I’ve been separated for 10 years and have never seen my son.”

The dangerous Channel crossing is often the last leg of a long journey.

Many people who are waiting for their turn have fled war.

While some have been abused or beaten while on their way to the boats, others, like Jaber, a 19-year old Afghan, won’t stop dreaming of a UK future.

He said, “If they send me away, we will return.” “And if they send us to Rwanda, I haven’t committed any crime, so they will send me back.”

The criminal gangs that operate along the coast are not likely to be stopped.

We hear about future crossings and weather conditions as we film.

It won’t be easy to break the grip of traffickers.

Channel route smugglers make hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.

Continue reading:

Unveiled Annual cap on migrants who enter through safe routes

Is it safe to travel to the UK?

Sky News has heard from them that they would continue to try to reach the UK even if someone was sent to Amazon.

Some charity workers working in the camps are concerned that stricter rules might make illegal crossings more risky.

“I believe it could become more dangerous. People will want to hide and take more risky routes. They’ll be exploited more when they reach the UK, as they will be forced underground,” Jess Sharman is Care4Calais’ operations manager.

The desperation of refugees and migrants in northern France fuels their determination. Until safer routes are found, smugglers will continue to risk people’s lives.