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

LONDON — The first family of three, including a small child, arrived in the United Kingdom from France under the new 'one in, one out' exchange, marking the pilot’s initial arrivals in the program. Four other people who crossed the English Channel by boat from France were flown back to France in recent days as part of the arrangement.

Officials described the arrival as 'critical first steps' in the program, which Britain and France negotiated earlier this year and came into force last month. Under the plan, Britain returns unauthorized entrants and France sends vetted asylum-seekers to the U.K.

The bilateral pilot runs initially through June next year, with officials saying it could be expanded if the arrangement proves effective. The government says the scheme is intended to deter dangerous crossings by sea and to speed up asylum processing in both countries.

Context and scope: More than 32,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats in 2025; the year is on track to exceed last year’s level of about 37,000. Dozens have died in attempts to cross the Channel in overcrowded craft.

In recent months, anti-immigrant protests outside hotels housing asylum-seekers drew attention to the issue as authorities sought to accelerate processing and reduce the number of migrants housed in hotels.