I can't disagree with a word of this tbh, you're spot on at first glance. In my opinion they've backed themselves into a corner with one of the big Brexit promises.
"We'll take control of our borders!"
If they had any courage they'd tell people they can't stop the boats and that immigration needs to be handled better ...
... but they daren't come out and say it.
I believe we should offer to take genuine asylum seekers, with skills or qualifications, and ask them to apply from their own country. That would slow things down greatly imo especially if successful applicants could simply jump on a flight.
(Complimentary drinks and a snack if you're suitable for the NHS

)
Patel, Braverman, Sunak, etc, keep claiming they pay smugglers around £10,000 so why not offer the same deal. That would cripple the gangs and bring in a Labour force we can use. It would also pose a question to those who support migrant's rights.
"Why would genuine asylum seekers choose traffickers, weeks in a lorry then dicing with death in the Channel?"
The ten grand, per person, would also help a canny bit with the admin charges
"Migrants attempting to reach the UK are paying smuggling gangs as much as £13,500 to arrange their journey, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed.12 Apr 2016"