First migrant returned to France under UK-France 'one in, one out' deal
Indian national flown from London to Paris as new returns arrangement faces legal hurdles and political debate
LONDON — The first small-boat migrant has been returned to France under the new 'one in, one out' deal between the United Kingdom and France, Home Office sources said on Monday morning. The Indian national was flown from London to Paris this morning, and a second migrant was expected to be deported on another flight later in the day, the sources said. The development comes after three days of aborted attempts to carry out the first removal under the July agreement signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, as authorities confront legal challenges that have delayed removals.
Telegraph reports, citing unnamed French government sources, that the man originated from India and departed on an Air France flight. The BBC confirmed the first return is part of the deal, which requires reciprocal action if a migrant is removed from the U.K. The case comes after a high-profile legal challenge on Tuesday forced ministers to pause removal of a 25-year-old Eritrean man who had been due to fly yesterday, prompting criticism from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood about vexatious legal claims.
Under the agreement, since it went into force on August 7, more than 5,400 small-boat migrants have reached Britain, according to government data cited in outlets. Official figures show about 31,026 migrants have arrived this year, up 38% from the same period last year. The returns scheme aims to deter arrivals by guaranteeing removal in reciprocal fashion if one migrant is returned from Britain to France.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned last-minute legal challenges as undermining the system, saying they made a mockery of laws and Britain’s generosity. The opposition argued that Labour’s stance would hamper reform, with Conservative shadow Chris Philp accusing Labour leaders of blocking real change. Mahmood added that she would defend the public’s priorities in court and fight to end vexatious, last-minute claims. Her comments marked the strongest acknowledgment yet from a Labour minister about how legal challenges are deployed to frustrate deportation measures. Since the returns deal with France was announced, officials have warned it remains vulnerable to human rights and modern-slavery challenges.
On July 10, the day the policy was launched, the Daily Mail questioned senior Home Office figures about the possibility of legal challenges, but officials declined to speculate on how they would be handled. This week’s High Court ruling on the unnamed Eritrean migrant paved the way for copycat claims by others at risk of deportation under the scheme. About half of the 92 migrants reported to be in Home Office custody are expected to bring claims, legal sources said, potentially leaving many removals in legal limbo for months. The Eritrean migrant, who had arrived in Britain on August 12, later submitted a modern-slavery claim alleging forced unpaid work in Libya. The High Court granted an injunction blocking his removal for 14 days while the claim is scrutinised, with the Home Office planning an appeal to shorten the injunction and push for deportation.
The Home Secretary has also launched an urgent review of the Modern Slavery Act to assess where it is open to misuse, officials said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted Britain will remain aligned with the European Convention on Human Rights, a position that continues to shape the legal arguments surrounding removals. Starmer previously edited a legal manual on interpreting human rights laws, reflecting his long-standing engagement with immigration-law issues. Since the deal’s Aug. 7 implementation, more than 5,400 small-boat migrants have reached Britain, underscoring the ongoing pressure on government resources and the political viability of the returns scheme.
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was moved sideways to the Foreign Office in this month’s reshuffle after she failed to make progress on the issue.
The returns program remains central to the government’s strategy to curb Channel crossings, but it faces a steady drumbeat of legal challenges that complicate implementation. Officials say the operation will continue with immediate deportations planned as legal processes unfold. The government has framed the policy as a test of migrants’ willingness to use the system transparently while balancing legal rights with national border controls, though opponents warn that the approach could erode protections for asylum seekers. As the situation evolves, the next steps depend on court rulings, the pace of removals, and the ability of France to absorb returned migrants in a timely manner. The broader debate over migration policy in the U.K. continues to pivot on how to reconcile humanitarian obligations with border-security priorities within the framework of European human-rights law.