Second migrant deported under UK-France plan as Channel crossings persist; smugglers warn of bigger boats and larger scale

The United Kingdom and France carried out a second deportation under a joint pilot scheme aimed at deterring small-boat crossings, as hundreds of migrants continued to attempt the Channel route from Calais. An Eritrean man was flown from London to Paris this morning after a last‑minute legal challenge failed to block the removal, following the previous day’s departure of the first migrant under the agreement. The Home Office said the flight proceeded as planned, with a full aircraft and security staff on board.

The Eritrean migrant’s case has been the subject of a High Court ruling in which Mr. Justice Sheldon found there was no serious issue to try and that the claimant’s credibility on trafficking claims was inconsistent. The man, who cannot be named, had said he fled Eritrea due to forced conscription in 2019 and spent time in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Libya before moving to France and then the UK. Lawful removal was deemed appropriate because his asylum claim was deemed inadmissible after he entered the UK on a small boat on August 6 and was detained by Border Force. Barristers had argued the decision was procedurally unfair because he had not been given sufficient opportunity to present evidence of trafficking. The judge said there was significant public interest in removal and that the Home Office could reasonably conclude his trafficking claim could not be believed. The Home Office noted the case in context of its broader shift on modern slavery decisions and remedies, saying the government will pursue removals where asylum claims are found inadmissible.

A second migrant’s departure followed a day of activity that included the deployment of passengers and staff on the Heathrow‑Paris flight. The Eritrean—appearing in his 20s, wearing a white hooded top and Adidas track pants—sat in the final row as the plane AF1381 prepared to depart. He accepted tea and biscuits from cabin crew, while a Home Office official filled out paperwork ahead of arrival in Paris. The departure comes amid renewed tension over how to curb Channel crossings, with officials under pressure to demonstrate a deterrent effect from removals even as crossings continue.

The latest removals come as a broader debate over deterrence and smuggling economics intensifies. Rob Lawrie, a former soldier who has spoken to people smugglers for a podcast series, said the scheme appears far too small to deter a well‑funded network. A smuggler he spoke to reportedly argued that 2,000 people would need to be returned weekly to deter further crossings, but even that scale would be insufficient if the flow to France continued via larger boats. Lawrie said the network involves “hundreds of millions” of pounds and warned that new, longer boats—18‑metre vessels, he said—are being prepared for next season. He noted the current year had already seen boats carrying as many as 132 migrants.

Officials briefed on the pilot scheme say the aim is to impose costs and risk on those who enable crossings, and to disrupt the network that has grown into a substantial industry. The plan was agreed with the French government in July as part of an effort to deter the record number of small‑boat arrivals. The Home Office has faced scrutiny after some removals were cancelled or delayed earlier in the week, and ministers have defended the approach as a necessary step in restoring order to Britain’s borders.

In parallel to the removals, the Home Secretary defended the government’s approach, reiterating that those who enter the UK illegally would face removal. Shabana Mahmood said the first return demonstrated the government’s resolve, even as legal challenges continued. She also indicated the government would legally challenge attempts to frustrate removals in court and that appeals from safe countries would be limited under revised policies following recent decisions related to modern slavery and the National Referral Mechanism.

The deportation effort comes as U.S. President Donald Trump, during a visit to the United Kingdom, urged Sir Keir Starmer to take a “very strong stand” on immigration. Trump asserted that the UK should act decisively against illegal crossings, a stance that has resonated with some policymakers in Britain who are seeking to reassure the public that the government is tackling the issue with tangible measures. The White House comments were reported as part of wider international coverage of the issue and the related political debates surrounding border control.

From Gravelines to Dover, the frontline of the Channel crisis continued to unfold on Friday. At Gravelines, witnesses reported several dinghies launching into the sea, while Border Force ferried migrants ashore at Dover later in the morning. The day’s events also included imagery of attempts to launch boats from the French coast and reflections on the ongoing risk for those seeking to cross the Channel in small vessels. Observers say the crossings show no sign of abating, even as authorities pursue enforcement and diplomacy as part of a broader strategy to deter departures and disrupt the smuggling networks.

As the crisis persists, officials emphasize that the pilot returns are only one element of a multifaceted response that includes legal, diplomatic and operational components. Advocates warn that the economics of people smuggling—driven by the vast sums of money and the risk to human life—will continue to spur inventive methods and larger craft unless a more scalable deterrent framework is established. The debate over how to balance border security with humanitarian obligations remains at the forefront of policy discussions in Britain and Europe as authorities seek to reduce deadly crossings while addressing the complex routes and networks that enable them.