Border Force has picked up a group of 49 migrants in the early hours of Boxing Day.
Four small boats were stopped and the people who were aboard the vessels were brought to the UK.
The group of men, women and on minor, have said they are Iranian, Iraqi and Afghani.
Border Force were first alerted to the incident at 1.30 am and sent out two cutters and a coastal patrol vessel.
The group were helped into one of the cutters and the patrol vessel, before being taken to dry land.
French authorities intercepted another two boats and returned them to mainland Europe.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Illegal migration is a criminal activity.
“Those who seek to come to the UK illegally and the ruthless criminals who facilitate journeys are all breaking the law and endangering lives.
“When people arrive on our shores unlawfully, we will work to return them to mainland Europe.
“In partnership with France, we target the criminals behind this form of people smuggling, to pre-empt crossings and stop boats from leaving French shores.
“There has been a doubling of patrols on French beaches and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to deter these illegal crossings.”
The 49 people brought to the UK this morning were medically assessed, and will be interviewed after they have been seen by paramedics.
