A second migrant removed to France under Britain’s “one in, one out” agreement with Paris has returned to the UK, officials confirmed Monday, raising questions about the scheme’s effectiveness.
The individual was “detected by biometrics and detained immediately,” a Home Office spokesperson said. “His case will be expedited, and he will be returned to France as quickly as possible.”
This follows an earlier case on October 18th, when an Iranian migrant re-entered Britain by small boat a month after being deported to France. He was deported again last Wednesday.
According to the agreement—implemented in September and agreed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French president Emannuel Macron—an adult ‘small boat’ migrant with an inadmissible asylum claim in the UK could be returned to France. In exchange, subject to formal security checks, a migrant held in France with a demonstrable connection to Britain would be sent on over the English Channel, legally.
So far, 94 migrants have been removed to France under the treaty, while 57 have arrived through the official application process.
Under Labour PM Keir Starmer, over 39,000 migrants have crossed illegally into Britain on small boats, surpassing the 2024 totals.
