Nearly 1,900 migrants arrived on UK shores in 2019, figures show.
More than double the number of people arrived in small boats Britain in December last year, compared with December 2018.
The figures, collated by the BBC, came as three more boats were intercepted off the Kent coast on New Year's Eve.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid had declared a "major incident" in December 2018 when 138 migrants arrived in boats across the English channel within the space of a month.
However, a year later, in the month of December 2019, 283 people arrived in the UK, according to the research.
Overall in 2019, at least 1,892 successfully crossed the Channel, with a further 1,235 people intercepted by the French authorities, according to the broadcaster.
The Home Office said they could not confirm official numbers yet but were not disputing the reported amount.
It comes after 43 adults were rescued from small boats on New Year's Eve before being taken to Dover.
At around 3.35am, a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 12 men who presented themselves as Iranian nationals.
Then an hour later, a group of 22 Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan nationals were rescued by authorities.
At 7.50am, Border Force again intercepted a group of Iranian nationals including seven men and two women.
The Coastguard and UK Border Force also dealt with several small migrant boats off the UK following several incidents over the weekend.
More than 60 migrants were rescued by the French and British authorities on Sunday.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Illegal migration is a criminal activity. Those who seek to come to the UK unlawfully and the ruthless criminals who facilitate journeys are all breaking the law and endangering lives.
“We will always ensure we have the right resources in place to keep our border secure.
"A forty-two metre Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels are patrolling the Channel and we are monitoring the situation closely over the Christmas and new year period."
Patrols on French beaches as well as drones have been doubled while specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to prevent small boats leaving French shores, the spokeswoman added.
