More than 1,000 cross Channel in a day as UK returns rise under pilot deal
1,072 people arrived in 13 boats at Dover; three men have now been sent back under the 'one in, one out' scheme as asylum-seekers prepare to arrive from France next week; debate over deterrence continues.
More than 1,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Friday, the Home Office said, with 1,072 individuals in 13 boats reaching Dover. The cross-Channel crossings for 2025 now total 32,103, a record for this point in the year.
Two more migrants were returned to France on Friday, after an Indian man was removed from the UK on Thursday. With these returns, three men have now been sent back under the pilot 'one in, one out' scheme. The government said the deportation of the Eritrean national was sanctioned after a court ruling favorable to the measure.
Next week, the first asylum seekers are expected to arrive in the UK from France under the reciprocal aspect of the deal, part of the broader arrangement designed to deter crossings while processing asylum claims.
Ministers praised the returns, with deputy prime minister David Lammy saying they provided an "immediate deterrent" to people seeking to cross the Channel. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp disputed this, saying the deal offered "no deterrent effect whatsoever" and that the numbers returned were "pathetic." The government said it intends to increase the number of people being sent back under the pilot deal over the coming months.
Analysts and policymakers remain divided over the strategy's effectiveness as authorities prepare to expand the reciprocal aspect of the agreement. Supporters argue the returns create a practical deterrent and manage border pressures, while critics warn that the long-term impact on migrant flows remains uncertain and that the human consequences of mass crossings warrant close scrutiny. The week ahead will also test the operational logistics of moving asylum seekers from France to the UK under the reciprocal component of the deal, as officials seek to demonstrate progress beyond the headline crossing figures.