First migrant deported under the UK's 'one in, one out' deal with France

Britain on Thursday returned the first migrant to France under a new "one in, one out" deal, both governments confirmed, as London bids to curb highly contentious cross-Channel arrivals.

The UK interior ministry said it deported the man, who arrived aboard a small boat in August, on a commercial flight.

The French government also confirmed the removal, with a source telling AFP that he was an Indian national.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hailed his departure as "an important first step to securing our borders", insisting it sent a message that "if you enter the UK illegally, we will seek to remove you".

"The UK will always play its part in helping those genuinely fleeing persecution, but this must be done through safe, legal and managed routes – not dangerous crossings," she said.   

Under the scheme, the UK can detain and return migrants arriving across the Channel if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, including those who have passed through a "safe country" to reach UK shores.

In return, London will accept an equal number of migrants from France who can apply for a UK visa via an online platform.

The pilot scheme, which came into force in August, is set to run until June 2026.

Britain's interior ministry said further removals were expected later this week and next week, while the first legal arrivals from France were expected "in the coming days".

'Smash the gangs' 

Embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck the deal with French President Emmanuel Macron in July.

Tens of thousands of migrants have arrived annually on the shores of southeast England in recent years, fuelling domestic anger and the rise of Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage's far-right Reform UK Party. 

Reform UK has done better in polls than any other British party for much of this year, although YouGov found that 58 percent of Britons still see the party unfavourably. 

Anti-immigration demonstrators have amassed outside some of the hotels housing asylum-seekers in recent months, with some gatherings turning violent. 

The journeys across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes have also repeatedly proved fatal for migrants.

At least 23 people have died so far this year in incidents linked to crossings in overcrowded dinghies, according to an AFP tally based on official French data.

Starmer took power in July 2024 vowing to tackle human traffickers and "smash the gangs", scrapping a costly and controversial scheme planned by the previous Conservative government to send some migrants to Rwanda.

Critics have said ditching that initiative, which the UK Supreme Court ruled illegal and various rights groups had condemned, removed a much-needed deterrent.

'Cruel' 

Thursday's first removal comes just days after the High Court in London temporarily blocked the planned deportation of an Eritrean migrant, to the ire of the UK government.

Mahmood reiterated she "will continue to challenge any last-minute, vexatious attempts to frustrate a removal in the courts".

The man had claimed he was a victim of trafficking, and the High Court gave him 14 days to provide proof.

The Home Office was to apply Thursday to the Court of Appeal to cut that deadline. 

Meanwhile, the government will launch a "rapid review" of modern anti-slavery legislation "to prevent its misuse", it said.

More than 90 migrants who recently arrived to the UK on small boats have been detained for deportation to France, according to charities. France will begin its first repatriations to the UK from Saturday, the French interior ministry has said.

But French non-governmental organisations working in the sector have criticised the scheme as largely unworkable.

"The purpose of this agreement is that it does not work," said Stella Bosc, spokeswoman for L'Auberge des Migrants (The migrant hostel).

"It's political posturing."

UK charities have also condemned the initiative. The "cruel policy targeting people who come here to seek safety" was a "grim attempt ... to appease the racist far right," said Griff Ferris of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)