Second Migrant Deported Under UK-France 'One In, One Out' Scheme Returns to Britain by Small Boat

Second Deported Migrant Detected After Returning to UK

A second individual, previously removed from the UK under the 'one in, one out' migrant agreement with France, has returned to British shores via a small boat. The unnamed man was detected among a group of nearly 400 people who crossed the English Channel on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Upon arrival, he was immediately identified through biometric data as one of the 94 individuals removed under the UK-France treaty over the past two months. The Home Office confirmed his detention and stated that his removal back to France would be 'as quickly as possible'.

The 'One In, One Out' Agreement Under Scrutiny

The 'one in, one out' scheme, a pilot program agreed upon by the UK and France, came into force in August 2025. Its primary aim 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, often because they traveled through France, considered a safe country. In reciprocity, the UK accepts an equivalent number of asylum seekers from France who have not previously attempted irregular entry and possess strong claims, such as family links in Britain. The deal was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2025 and is slated to run as a pilot until June 2026.

Official Response and Previous Incident

A Home Office spokesperson emphasized the government's firm stance, stating, 'Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money.' They added that the individual was detected by biometrics and detained immediately, with his case to be expedited for return to France. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister echoed this sentiment, asserting that the immediate detection of the returning migrant demonstrated the system was 'working' and that the individual's journey was 'wasted completely'.

This incident marks the second such occurrence since the scheme's inception. An Iranian man was the first to return after being deported, arriving back in the UK on October 18 before being re-deported on November 5. 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.

Criticism Amidst Rising Crossings

The effectiveness of the 'one in, one out' scheme has drawn criticism from various political figures. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP have both voiced concerns, suggesting the deal demonstrates 'staggering levels of incompetence' and lacks a significant deterrent effect. These criticisms come amidst a backdrop of high numbers of Channel crossings, with over 39,000 migrants having arrived in the UK so far in 2025, a figure that surpasses the total for the entirety of 2024.