A Filipino migrant waiting in the dunes near Calais has told reporters that Britain was never his preferred destination, admitting he would rather have gone to the United States but lacked the money for the longer journey. Speaking to a Daily Express crew filming in the camps, the man said: “I didn’t originally want to go to Britain.
"I actually longed for the United States because I could learn English there, too. But the journey to the United States is too far, and I don’t have enough money, so I had to choose Britain instead. I know that there are a lot of cloudy days in Britain, but it’s really not my first choice," he told Express Investigations Editor Zak Garner-Purkis.
The exchange took place amid heightened tension on the French coast. Journalists attempting to speak to migrants were repeatedly interrupted by masked men who ordered others not to talk to the camera. At one point, individuals in high-visibility jackets claimed to be police before being challenged for identification; they later appeared to be local council workers.
The Filipino migrant’s comments underline a practical calculation made by some of those gathering in northern France. The United States remained the preferred option for language and opportunity, but the shorter and cheaper Channel crossing offered a more realistic route. He acknowledged British opposition to immigration yet still planned to attempt the journey.
The Express investigation also documented the physical remnants of the crossings. In the dunes, they found a destroyed inflatable boat, discarded life jackets and other debris left from previous launch attempts. Elsewhere in the area, they noted what appeared to be bags of tablets left on the ground, which they reported to French police.
French authorities continue regular clearances of informal camps around Calais and Dunkirk. The sites remain heavily controlled, with migrants often reluctant or actively discouraged from speaking to the media.
Crossings continue when weather allows, despite joint UK-French efforts to disrupt the smuggling networks that organise the boats.
The migrant’s frank assessment stands in contrast to more common public narratives. Rather than framing the UK as a primary refuge, he described it as a second-best option forced by distance and cost.
His account adds to evidence that some of those attempting the Channel route are making calculated choices between destinations rather than seeking the nearest safe country.
Home Office figures show tens of thousands of small-boat arrivals in recent years. French and British officials have increased beach patrols and targeting of the gangs that supply the boats and engines.
Launch points have shifted along the coast in response. Yet the camps persist, and individuals continue to wait for the next opportunity to cross.
The Filipino man’s remarks, delivered under the low grey skies he explicitly criticised, offer a rare unfiltered view from the French side of the Channel.
For him, the cloudy British climate was simply one more factor in a decision already constrained by money and geography.