First migrants arrive in UK from France under 'one in, one out' deal

Britain's Home Office confirmed the first migrants have arrived in the UK from France under the government's 'one in, one out' agreement. The scheme, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in July, is part of a year-long effort to deter small-boat crossings.

Under the treaty, for each migrant returned to France, the UK will accept a person with a protection claim who has not attempted to cross the Channel. The Home Office described the arrangement as a clear message to people-smuggling gangs that illegal entry will not be tolerated, and said authorities will continue to detain and remove those who arrive by small boat.

This move follows the removal of the first four migrants from the UK to France as part of the year-long scheme. The removals have included an Indian national, an Eritrean man, an Iranian national, and an Afghan person. Last week, the Indian national became the first to be removed, followed days later by the Eritrean man; last Friday an Iranian national was removed, and on Monday an Afghan person was removed.

Authorities say more than 30,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year. The pact, announced in July by Starmer and Macron, requires France to take back migrants who reached the UK by small boat and had their asylum claims withdrawn or declared inadmissible. For each return to France, the UK will accept a refugee with a valid protection claim.