Paris: A new pilot scheme between the UK and France aimed at curbing the number of small boats crossing the English Channel, has come into effect, with the first detentions and returns of illegal migrants expected in the coming days.
Under the ‘one-in, one-out’ agreement, some individuals arriving in the UK via small boats will be detained and returned to France. In exchange, the UK will accept an equal number of asylum seekers from France, provided they haven’t previously attempted the Channel crossing and pass strict security and eligibility screenings.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the deal as a product of months of grown-up diplomacy that would deliver real results. The plan, agreed in July with French President Emmanuel Macron, has now cleared legal reviews by the European Commission and key EU member states including Germany.
The UK government confirmed that, “The EU Commission, Germany and other member states have given the green light on this innovative approach.”
Under the scheme, adult migrants attempting to cross the Channel could be returned to France if their asylum claims are deemed inadmissible. While the government has not specified how many people will be transferred under the deal, reports suggest a target of 50 returns per week, significantly fewer than the 800 people currently making the journey weekly.
UK law prohibits sending asylum seekers back to their country of origin without evaluating their claims, but does allow for transfers to safe third countries willing to process them. As of July 30, over 25,000 people had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025, a 49 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the agreement as ‘ground breaking’ and a crucial step toward dismantling the operations of criminal smuggling networks.
To support enforcement, the government has also announced a $132.8 million (£100 million) fund for the recruitment of 300 additional National Crime Agency officers to tackle smuggling networks. Further steps are being taken to reduce the incentives for illegal migration, such as cracking down on unlawful employment practices.
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