Second Deported Migrant Returns to UK on Small Boat Under 'One In, One Out' Scheme

Migrant Detected and Detained Upon Return

A second individual, previously deported to France under the UK-France 'one in, one out' migrant returns scheme, has successfully re-entered the United Kingdom by crossing the English Channel in a small boat. The Home Office confirmed on Monday, November 10, 2025, that the unnamed man was detected among approximately 400 migrants who arrived on Sunday, November 9, 2025. He was identified through biometric data and immediately detained upon arrival.

A Home Office spokesperson stated, 'Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money.' The spokesperson added that the individual's case would be expedited, and he would be returned to France 'as quickly as possible.'

The 'One In, One Out' Agreement

The 'one in, one out' pilot scheme, a bilateral treaty between the UK and France, officially came into force on August 6, 2025. The agreement was announced in July by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Its primary objective is to deter illegal Channel crossings by allowing the UK to return migrants who arrive via small boats and whose asylum claims are deemed inadmissible. In a reciprocal arrangement, the UK agrees to accept an equivalent number of asylum seekers from France who have not attempted illegal entry and possess family connections in Britain.

As of early November 2025, official figures indicate that 94 migrants have been removed to France under the treaty, while 57 individuals have been accepted into the UK through the corresponding legal pathway. The pilot scheme is scheduled to conclude in June 2026.

Previous Incident and Political Reactions

This latest incident marks the second such occurrence since the scheme's inception. An Iranian man, who was among the first to be deported under the agreement, returned to the UK on October 18, 2025, and was subsequently deported again on November 5, 2025.

The repeated returns have drawn criticism from various political figures. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, commented that the government was 'mired in migrant chaos and has clearly lost control of our borders.' Similarly, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP described the situation as demonstrating 'staggering levels of incompetence' from the Home Office.

Conversely, Downing Street maintains that the immediate detection and detention of returning individuals serve as evidence that the system is functioning as intended, demonstrating that attempts to re-enter the UK after deportation are futile.