The UK government’s ‘one in, one out’ swap deal with France has resulted in the return of 75 migrants, while 51 individuals have been accepted into the UK under this arrangement. Implemented in August as a pilot scheme, the UK commits to returning asylum seekers who have crossed the English Channel via small boats and in exchange accepts a corresponding number of vetted asylum seekers who have arrived through legal channels.
In September, the UK initiated the first deportations, with 20 more individuals being deported on a flight this week and 13 the previous week. The primary objective of this scheme, according to the government, is to discourage small-boat crossings by threatening those attempting such journeys with detention and subsequent removal to France. While seeking asylum through boat arrivals is unlawful under UK legislation, international law recognizes seeking asylum as a fundamental right without any discriminatory distinctions based on the method of escape from persecution.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed confidence in the scheme’s progress, noting that it is «on course» to accomplish the objective of reducing boat crossings. However, recent reports revealed a setback when an asylum seeker deported to France managed to return to the UK via a small boat. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government, citing the individual’s return as evidence of «total chaos,» claiming the individual faced persecution in France, prompting their return to the UK. Efforts are underway to deport the individual once again.
A spokesperson from the Home Office emphasized the significance of these deportations as a deterrent to individuals contemplating illegal entry into the country. The spokesperson stated, «For many years, illegal migrants entered our country with no consequence. These returns send a warning to those considering entering this country illegally: if you come here by small boat, you can be sent back. We are scaling up these removals to France and will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.»
The influx of individuals crossing the Channel in small boats has seen a considerable rise, with 36,954 individuals making the journey since the beginning of 2025, surpassing the previous year’s record of 36,818. French authorities have reported preventing over 17,600 attempted crossings. In response to mounting political pressure regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers, Sir Keir’s government announced its intention to relocate individuals from asylum seeker hotels to military barracks instead.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the effectiveness of the ‘one in, one out’ deal, highlighting that only a small number of immigrants had been returned to France while a significant number of illegal immigrants had crossed the Channel since the scheme was introduced. Philp noted that this indicated a low deterrence rate, with the majority of individuals being allowed to stay in the UK.
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