The UK government has confirmed it will begin sending some migrants back to France within days, under a new agreement designed to reduce the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats.
This plan is part of a “one in, one out” pilot scheme, announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron last month. Here’s how it works:
The UK will send undocumented migrants who arrive by boat back to France.
In return, the UK will accept an equal number of approved asylum seekers who have family ties in Britain.
So far in 2025, more than 25,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats. The UK says this new plan is meant to help break up people-smuggling gangs and stop dangerous crossings.
How the Deal Works
The treaty was signed last week and officially ratified on Tuesday.
The first group of migrants is expected to be returned to France within days.
UK Interior Minister Yvette Cooper said the returns will start small and increase over time.
Early reports suggest around 50 people per week may be returned — about 2,600 per year, much less than the 35,000+ who arrived last year.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called the deal a clear step towards disrupting people-smuggling networks. France will now accept returns under this agreement, but only for migrants who recently arrived — not those already settled in the UK.
Keir Starmer is under pressure from voters and rivals like Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which is gaining support in opinion polls by criticizing the government’s handling of migration.
There have also been recent protests in England outside hotels housing asylum seekers — with both anti- and pro-immigration groups taking part.
Officials say this migrant return scheme is just one part of a wider strategy. Other actions the UK government is taking include Sanctioning people smugglers, Cracking down on illegal job offers advertised online.
Working with delivery companies to stop the false promises made to migrants.
The European Commission and EU member states have approved the plan, meaning it fits within broader European migration laws.
Some critics argue that returning a few thousand migrants won’t deter illegal crossings or end smuggling. But the UK government insists this is just the beginning of a long-term plan to make migration safer and fairer.
If successful, the “one in, one out” deal could expand or inspire similar agreements with other EU countries. For now, the UK is watching closely to see if this pilot approach makes a difference.
