A migrant who was deported to France under the UK-France bilateral returns agreement has crossed the Channel again by small boat, raising questions about the effectiveness of the scheme.
The Case
The individual, reportedly an Iranian national, first arrived in the UK on August 6 and was returned to France on September 19 as part of the reciprocal arrangement between the two countries. However, he made another Channel crossing on October 18, less than a month after his deportation.
According to the migrant’s account, he fled accommodation in Paris due to safety concerns, claiming he had previously experienced threats and abuse from smuggling networks operating in France. He stated that fear for his personal safety drove his decision to attempt another crossing.
The individual is currently being held in an immigration detention center, with Home Office officials indicating they plan to expedite his removal.
Political Response
The incident has drawn criticism from opposition politicians who argue the returns scheme lacks sufficient deterrent power.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch questioned the practical implications for the one-for-one exchange mechanism, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage characterized the policy as ineffective.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp noted that only 42 individuals have been returned to France during a period when over 10,000 have arrived, arguing this represents insufficient deterrence. Opposition figures have called for withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights to enable faster deportations.
Scheme Details and Challenges
The UK-France returns agreement, which began on August 6, operates on a reciprocal basis. More than 11,000 migrants have reached the UK since the scheme’s inception.
Under the arrangement, individuals returned to France are placed in state-run accommodation centers for asylum seekers. However, they are not detained, meaning they can move freely.
According to analysis by Migration Watch, the current rate of returns averages one person every two days. The think tank calculated that at this pace, it would take nearly three centuries to process all small boat arrivals that have occurred since the current government took office.
Migration Watch Chairman Alp Mehmet criticized the scheme’s scope, noting that the one-for-one exchange means the overall number of migrants requiring processing remains essentially unchanged when factoring in continued new arrivals.
Official Response
The French interior ministry disputed claims that conditions for returned asylum seekers are inadequate or unsafe.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that the government would not tolerate border violations and remains committed to removing individuals without legal authorization to remain. The spokesperson confirmed that people returned under the pilot program who subsequently attempt illegal re-entry will face removal.
The Home Office has indicated plans to increase the volume of returns under the UK-France agreement.
