In August 2020, Ben & Jerry's attracted criticism from several British commentators and government officials for defending the channel crossings of migrants from France, which had started after a tweet sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel, calling for their treatment as asylum seekers. Additionally, the company claimed people cannot be illegal, even when entering a country for economic reasons with the crossings coming from the developed First World country of France. With these points of contention being voiced by some. Minister James Cleverly also criticized the statements from the company as being statistically inaccurate and described them as 'virtue signalling.' Spiked considered the statements hypocritical due to the company's own practices in relation to worker's rights and pay. The publication also alleged the hiring of illegal immigrants in which they were said to be treated with poor working conditions, 12 to 14-hour days and a barely minimum wage pay rate.