First migrants detained under 'one in, one out' deal with France

The first migrants have been detained after crossing the English Channel under the UK's new ‘one in, one out’ returns agreement with France.

On Wednesday, the first day the pilot programme came into effect, photographs from Dover showed migrants wearing life jackets disembarking from Border Force vessels. The Home Office confirmed that those detained will be held in immigration removal centres until they can be returned to France.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper did not disclose the exact number of migrants being held but stated she was prepared to fight any legal challenges aimed at preventing their removal.

Government Response

"The transfer to immigration removal centres is underway as we speak," Ms Cooper said, "so we won't have operational information at this point."

She said the new policy was designed to break the business model of the "criminal gangs" that exploit vulnerable people.

"But let me be clear: from now on, anyone who arrives illegally will be detained and promptly returned. The first migrants could be sent back within weeks," she added.

"It's the start of the pilot, and it will expand over time," Cooper explained. "But it's also clear that France is a secure place, so we will vigorously defend against any legal challenges."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commented on the first detentions, stating: "If you break the rules to enter this country, you will face being sent back. I mean it when I say that I will stop at nothing to protect our borders."

How the Deal Works

The pilot scheme, expected to last for 11 months, was announced as part of a deal signed by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron in July.

Under the agreement, for every migrant returned to France after arriving by a small boat, the UK will accept one vetted asylum seeker directly from France via a safe and legal route. UK officials are expected to refer a migrant for return within three days of their arrival, with French authorities responding within 14 days.

In France, adults and families can express an interest in moving to the UK through a Home Office online platform. They must meet suitability criteria, undergo a visa application process, and pass security checks. If accepted, they will be given three months in the UK to apply for asylum. During this time, they will be subject to the same rules as other asylum applicants, meaning they will not be permitted to work, study, or access benefits.

The Home Office is set to launch a campaign in northern France to publicise the new agreement. So far in 2025, more than 25,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, an increase of nearly 49% compared to the same period in 2024.

Criticism of the Plan

While UK and international law prevents the government from returning asylum seekers to their country of origin before their claim is rejected, they can be sent to a safe third country to have their claim processed.

The Conservative opposition argues that the current scheme is not a strong enough deterrent for would-be migrants. They claim that Labour's agreement with France will be a less effective deterrent than the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told BBC Breakfast that it was a ‘foolish mistake’ to cancel the Rwanda scheme.