LONDON – Britain has carried out its first deportation of a migrant to France under the newly introduced “one in, one out” agreement aimed at reducing the rising number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats. The Home Office confirmed that the migrant, an Indian national, was returned to France by plane on Thursday as part of the bilateral pilot scheme agreed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The scheme allows the UK to deport undocumented migrants who enter Britain via small boats, in exchange for accepting the same number of legitimate asylum seekers from France who have British family connections. The initiative is designed to deter dangerous crossings and ease pressure on UK borders, with over 30,000 people making the perilous journey so far in 2025.
Despite a recent High Court ruling temporarily blocking one deportation due to a last-minute legal challenge, the UK government has vowed to combat “vexatious, last-minute claims” that delay removals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hailed the first deportation as a “significant initial stride towards securing our borders,” reaffirming that those entering unlawfully will face expulsion.
The “one in, one out” agreement represents a key step in restoring balance to migration flows between the two countries and ensuring asylum claims are processed through safe, legal channels rather than perilous maritime routes. Further deportation flights are planned in the coming days as the pilot program moves forward.