An Iranian man has become the third person forcibly removed to France under Britain’s controversial new “one-in, one-out” migrant returns agreement, marking a significant development in the government’s attempts to tackle the small boats crisis.
The removal follows an Eritrean man who was deported earlier today after losing a High Court bid to halt his departure, whilst an Indian national was returned yesterday in what officials are calling the first successful implementation of the pilot scheme. The Home Office confirmed all three men had arrived in Britain via small boat crossings from France.
The deportations come as US President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary intervention at Chequers yesterday, telling Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer he should “call in the military” to tackle Britain’s migrant crisis. Speaking at a joint press conference marking the end of his second state visit to the UK, Trump warned that illegal migration “destroys countries from within.”
“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,” the US President stated during the meeting at Starmer’s country residence. “It destroys countries from within and we’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.”
Legal Battles and Deportation Details
The path to these first deportations has been fraught with legal challenges that initially threatened to derail the scheme entirely. The Eritrean man removed today had mounted an eleventh-hour legal challenge, arguing he was a victim of human trafficking and faced destitution if returned to France.
His case followed that of another Eritrean national who on Tuesday won a temporary High Court injunction, with Mr Justice Sheldon granting him 14 days to provide evidence supporting trafficking claims. However, in a dramatic reversal yesterday evening, the same judge ruled against today’s deportee, finding there was “no serious issue to be tried” regarding his trafficking allegations.
Government sources emphasised the significance of overcoming these legal hurdles, with one noting pointedly: “I would note these are now three forced removals after eight weeks – the Rwanda scheme managed four volunteers in two years.”
The comparison to the abandoned Rwanda scheme, which cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds without achieving a single forced deportation, underscores the government’s determination to demonstrate early success with the France agreement.
Deputy PM Hails ‘Milestone’ Achievement
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who was appointed to the role earlier this month following Angela Rayner’s resignation, praised the returns as providing an “immediate deterrent” to Channel crossings. Speaking to media today, Lammy described the pilot scheme as a crucial step in UK-France cooperation.
“This pilot with France is a milestone because it sends an immediate deterrent to people, many of them coming obviously across the water, that we will send them back,” Lammy stated. “It is our hope to see that grow over the coming months and years because we have to bear down on the gangs and we have to smash the model effectively and we have to ensure that those who do not have a right to be here are sent back to the countries from which they are from.”
The Deputy PM, who also serves as Justice Secretary following the recent cabinet reshuffle, emphasised the government’s commitment to increasing returns numbers as the pilot progresses. His appointment came after Angela Rayner resigned over breaching ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on her Hove flat.
Channel Crossings Resume After Weather Break
The removals coincide with a resumption of Channel crossings after nine days of windy weather had prevented attempts. Conditions improved overnight, and at first light, suspected people smugglers around the Calais and Dunkirk areas were observed pushing multiple small boats into the Channel.
The People’s Channel reported that Border Force was braced for a “significant day of migrant activity,” with sources indicating multiple launches were expected throughout the day. The surge in crossings adds urgency to the government’s efforts to demonstrate the deterrent effect of the returns agreement.
More than 31,000 people have made the perilous journey so far this year, making 2025 the earliest point in any calendar year this figure has been surpassed since records began in 2018. The acceleration in crossings represents a 48% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Opposition Attacks ‘Pathetic’ Numbers
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has lambasted the returns agreement as providing “no deterrent effect whatsoever,” describing the numbers returned as “pathetic” and saying “boasting about it is absurd.”
Philp’s criticism centres on the mathematics of the scheme. With approximately 700 migrants arriving weekly via small boats and initial projections suggesting only 50 might be returned, critics argue over 90% of arrivals will still successfully remain in Britain.
“This deal will mean that 94 percent of illegal migrants crossing the Channel will get to stay. That is pathetic and will not deter anyone,” Philp stated. “By contrast, the Rwanda deterrent would have seen 100 percent of illegal migrants removed.”
How the Scheme Works
The UK-France treaty, which came into force on 6 August and runs until June 2026, operates on a strict reciprocal basis. For each person returned to France, Britain accepts an asylum seeker with legitimate UK connections, such as family ties, who has not previously attempted illegal entry.
Home Office sources confirmed that the first flights carrying asylum seekers from France to the UK under the reciprocal arrangement are expected next week. Although officials would not comment on specific numbers, sources indicated they were expected to be “at or close to parity,” given the “one in, one out” nature of the deal.
Under the treaty’s terms, any adult arriving by small boat can be detained immediately and held in Immigration Removal Centres pending removal. The UK must make referrals to France within three days, with French authorities expected to respond within 14 days.
Trump’s Military Solution
President Trump’s suggestion of military deployment represents a significant escalation in rhetoric around border control. During yesterday’s Chequers press conference, he drew parallels between Britain’s situation and America’s border crisis, claiming his administration had successfully ended illegal immigration through tough measures.
The US President’s comments came during what was otherwise a successful state visit focused on strengthening UK-US ties and announcing major technology investment deals. Trump praised the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations whilst offering unsolicited advice on Britain’s domestic challenges.
Sir Keir Starmer responded cautiously to Trump’s military suggestion, acknowledging the challenge whilst emphasising his government’s different approach. “There’s no silver bullet here,” the Prime Minister stated, highlighting efforts to target criminal gangs and establish returns agreements rather than military deployment.
Government Strategy and Future Plans
The government maintains that the returns agreement represents just one element of a broader strategy to tackle illegal migration. This includes enhanced cooperation with French authorities on beach patrols, sanctions targeting people smugglers, crackdowns on social media advertising of crossings, and cooperation with delivery firms to tackle illegal employment.
Officials have also indicated they are prepared to “robustly defend any legal challenges” during the trial phase, having learned lessons from the lengthy legal battles that plagued the previous government’s Rwanda scheme. A rapid review of modern slavery legislation has commenced to prevent what ministers describe as its misuse by those facing deportation.
The scheme includes provisions designed to prevent repeat attempts, with anyone returned to France becoming permanently ineligible for the legal route to the UK. Those attempting re-entry after being returned once will be prioritised for immediate removal.
European and Diplomatic Considerations
The bilateral deal has raised concerns among some EU member states, who were not consulted despite France being bound by Dublin regulations on asylum seekers. Southern European countries have expressed fears that migrants returned to France might attempt entry through their borders instead.
Despite these concerns, the European Commission and Germany have given approval for what they describe as an “innovative approach to deter illegal migration and prevent criminal smuggling networks operating across Europe.”
The timing of the removals, coinciding with Trump’s state visit and his controversial comments about military intervention, adds a diplomatic dimension to what is already a highly charged political issue. The government will be keen to demonstrate that its approach can succeed without the extreme measures advocated by the US President.
Looking Ahead
As the pilot scheme enters its operational phase, all eyes will be on whether these initial removals mark the beginning of a sustainable deterrent or merely another false dawn in Britain’s long-running battle to control its borders.
The government intends to increase the number of people being sent back under the pilot deal over the coming months, though specific targets remain undisclosed. With legal challenges likely to continue and practical obstacles to overcome, the scheme’s ultimate success remains far from certain.
What is clear is that with Channel crossings at record levels and political pressure mounting from both opposition parties and international allies, the stakes for the government’s migration strategy have never been higher.
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Image Credit:
Ambulance in the UK (April 8, 2016) — photo by Dickelbers, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
