Asylum Seekers Returned to France Under UK Deal Report Desperation and Safety Fears

Asylum seekers who have been returned to France from the United Kingdom under a controversial 'one in, one out' agreement are voicing severe concerns regarding their safety and well-being. Reports indicate feelings of desperation, fear, and a lack of adequate support upon their return to French territory.

The 'One In, One Out' Agreement

The 'one in, one out' deal, officially a pilot scheme, was established through an agreement signed in July 2025 by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. It came into force in August 2025. Under the terms of this arrangement, the UK is permitted to detain and return asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via small boats across the English Channel to France. In exchange, the UK agrees to accept a comparable number of asylum seekers who have family ties to the UK through a designated safe and legal route.

The UK government has described this as a 'historic agreement' aimed at deterring illegal migration and increasing the removal rate of individuals deemed to have no right to remain in the UK. The pilot scheme is scheduled to conclude on June 11, 2026.

Experiences of Returned Asylum Seekers

Individuals returned to France under the scheme have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences. Many report feeling unsafe, citing instances of alleged police violence, brutality, constant evictions, and the confiscation or destruction of their belongings in areas like Calais. An Iranian asylum seeker, identified as Afran, who was returned to Paris twice, stated, 'France, UK, France, UK, France – it's not my choice.' He expressed being 'frightened every time I go outside the shelter' due to perceived threats from smugglers.

Concerns have also been raised that some returned individuals may be victims of modern slavery or suffer from severe depression, with some having family members residing in the UK. Reports suggest that some asylum seekers were informed by British officials that they could claim asylum in France, yet the French interior ministry has indicated that many are ineligible due to the Dublin arrangements, which typically require asylum claims to be made in the first EU country entered. Furthermore, returned individuals have reported a lack of guidance on how to claim asylum or access legal support in France.

Statistics and Official Responses

As of November 18, 2025, a total of 113 asylum seekers had been returned to France under the deal, while 84 asylum seekers had been permitted to enter the UK. Earlier figures from November 10, 2025, indicated 94 returns to France and 57 arrivals in the UK. In October 2025, a record single flight saw 16 illegal migrants returned, bringing the total at that time to 42.

The Home Office maintains that the scheme is effectively deterring illegal crossings and that those attempting to re-enter the UK after removal will be detected and returned. 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 UK government has also committed over £232 million to the French government for border control measures between the 2014/2015 and 2022/2023 financial years.

However, human rights campaigners have criticized the scheme as 'unduly harsh,' arguing that it potentially exposes individuals to human rights violations and undermines the UK's international obligations.