Prime Minister Andy Burnham has attributed the surge in small boat arrivals to Brexit, claiming it left the United Kingdom with "weaker control".
He noted that crossings kept increasing after migrants realised they could no longer be forced back as before.
Speaking on Monday, Burnham said: "The reason the small boats crisis has arisen is because we can't return people, and people know we can't do that in the same way we used to be able to."
The minister added that leaving the EU deprived Britain of essential shared tracking systems and deportation agreements.
Data collected since January 2018 shows more than 200,000 migrants have arrived, with a peak of 45,774 recorded in 2022.
Burnham has previously expressed a desire to see Britain rejoin the bloc within his lifetime, while stating the public will "be the boss" of its own future.
The comments come as reports indicate the UK is discussing closer alignment with the EU, including the possible return to free movement.
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