Bangladesh, April 29 -- The decision by the United Kingdom to provide £660 million to France in return for stronger border enforcement may appear to be a decisive step in controlling migration across the English Channel. However, while the agreement may offer short-term political reassurance, it does not address the deeper forces that continue to drive irregular migration. The persistence of small boat crossings, despite years of increasing cooperation and spending, shows that financial agreements alone cannot resolve what is a complex and evolving issue.

At its core, the problem is not simply one of border surveillance or policing capacity. The United Kingdom is attempting to manage a dynamic system shaped by global inequality, pol...