The first quarter of this year marked a record high with 4,644 arrivals, slightly surpassing the previous year's count. Despite the narrow margin, it's a concerning trend for Sunak, who vowed to "stop the boats."

Criticism mounts within his party, as evidenced by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick's tweet suggesting the party's immigration strategy favors optimism over realism.

The proposed solution involves deporting migrants to Rwanda, but related legislation faces delays and will not be reconsidered until post-Easter.

Former cabinet members and MPs express frustration over ineffective initiatives and voter dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the issue.

Despite a £500m agreement with France to enhance patrols and a push to process asylum claims more efficiently, costs continue to spiral, with an expected outlay of £4.7 billion on asylum support by March 2024.

While immigration is not the foremost voter concern, overshadowed by the cost of living and NHS issues, it remains significant—especially among Conservative supporters who are increasingly disillusioned with the party's management of the issue.

Facing additional pressure from the Reform Party advocating for stricter border controls, Sunak enters the elections with his immigration stance in jeopardy.