The UK military is focused on defending the nation rather than stopping asylum seekers from crossing the Channel, a cabinet minister has said.
US President Donald Trump suggested that military intervention could be used to deal with illegal migration to the UK during his state visit this week.
But Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has rejected that call, telling BBC Breakfast the UK Border Force has specific responsibility for policing UK borders.
Hundreds of migrants attempted to cross the Channel earlier today, as the second deportation under the government's 'one in, one out' deal with France took place.
Six boats are believed to have set off from northern France, as the smugglers make the most of a break in the windy weather in the Channel. There had been no crossings for a week before then due to choppy seas.
On Friday morning, an Eritrean man became the second migrant to be deported under the government's deal with France, after he lost a High Court bid to halt his removal.
The Home Office tightened the rules around human trafficking claims to win the case.
But Trump suggested military force was a better deterrent than the Labour government's approach of diplomatic negotiations, agreeing returns and toughening up court guidance.
He said: 'You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military, it doesn't matter what means you use.'
Asked about the US president's claims, Kyle told BBC Breakfast: 'Well, what he suggested was the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force that is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered and has new powers under this government.'
'The navy actually does have a working relationship with the UK Border Force, and the navy can be called upon if needed, so we do have the functional relationship that we need between our military and keeping our borders safe and secure.'
'But what we really need at the moment is our military focused on all of those really key issues around the world, directly relating to our national defence.'
Trump has issued a series of executive orders implementing a broad ban on asylum for migrants entering at the southern border and has sent in troops to assist border security efforts, with arrests of migrants by the US Border Patrol decreasing since his term began.
Recent political movements are calling for tougher action on migration with no parties proposing military involvement, although a Reform UK spokesperson suggested towing small boats back to France 'as an absolute last resort.'
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is pushing to combat 'vexatious' claims from migrants, while the government aims for swift removals for those without the right to stay, reinforcing the current immigration removal framework.
