Enacted migration deal between the UK and France aims to address small-scale boat journeys across the English Channel
The United Kingdom and France have launched a new pilot scheme aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. The "one-in, one-out" plan, officially named as such, began on August 6, 2025, and is scheduled to run until June 2026 [1][3][5].
The scheme involves detaining individuals who arrive in the UK via small boats and returning them to France if their asylum claims are deemed inadmissible. In return, the UK will accept an equal number of asylum seekers from France, provided they have not previously attempted the crossing and pass necessary security and eligibility evaluations [2][5].
Operational readiness for the scheme has been established. The UK has prepared Immigration Removal Centres to detain adults crossing the Channel, and Border Force procedures have been developed to identify and process those eligible for removal. Detentions began shortly after the treaty came into force [3][5].
Approximately 50 migrants per week may be returned to France under the "one-in, one-out" plan. However, crossings remain high, with 1,259 arrivals in the week before the pilot began, suggesting the deterrent effect remains uncertain [1].
The UK government has announced a £100 million investment to deploy an additional 300 officers from the National Crime Agency to combat human smuggling [4]. The opposition, led by Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, has criticized the current plan, stating that a previously proposed Rwanda removal strategy, which was cancelled by the government, would have been more effective [6].
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, emphasized that the deal sends a clear message of zero tolerance for illegal crossings and intends to curb record irregular arrivals driving political discontent. The French Interior Ministry confirmed operational readiness, and the EU Commission endorsed the approach as innovative [3][5].
However, the charity Asylum Matters criticizes the scheme, asserting that the only viable solution to prevent perilous crossings is to provide genuine safe routes for individuals seeking asylum. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has termed the agreement "groundbreaking" and a significant step towards undermining the operations of human trafficking groups [7].
The pilot represents a novel bilateral approach to tackle small boat crossings by synchronizing returns to France with resettlement from France, backed by operational infrastructure and political will but facing legal and practical uncertainties regarding its deterrence impact and sustainability [1][2][3][5]. The pilot status offers flexibility for adjustments, with both countries committed to ongoing review and improvement during this period.
Sources: 1. BBC News, "Channel migrant crossings: UK and France launch 'one-in, one-out' pilot", link 2. The Guardian, "UK-France 'one-in, one-out' migrant deal: what is it and how does it work?", link 3. Sky News, "UK and France migrant deal: What is the 'one-in, one-out' plan?", link 4. The Telegraph, "National Crime Agency to get 300 extra officers to tackle Channel migrant crossings", link 5. The Independent, "What is the UK-France 'one-in, one-out' migrant deal and why is it controversial?", link 6. The Times, "Conservatives criticise Keir Starmer's migrant plan as 'ineffective'", link 7. The Mirror, "Keir Starmer's migrant deal 'groundbreaking' says Yvette Cooper as she vows to undermine human traffickers", link
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