The British government has given the armed forces a “crucial” role in the operation against illegal immigration in the English Channel, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said. Answering questions in the House of Commons on Jan. 17, Patel said that she had commissioned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as a “crucial operational partner to protect our Channel against illegal migration.” She said the British public will support the government’s resolve to “do everything possible to protect our borders” and that “a blended approach is absolutely vital.” Last year, at least 28,000 illegal immigrants arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats, more than tripling the number of arrivals of the previous year. The trend has continued this year, with more than 770 people having successfully landed in the UK so far. The crossings can be dangerous. A Sudanese man in his 20s died while trying to …