A second migrant has been repatriated to France as part of the “one in, one out” arrangement following an unsuccessful High Court challenge. The Eritrean individual was flown from Heathrow to Paris at 6.15 am on Friday, as confirmed by the Home Office. This action occurred after an Indian citizen was deported in the early hours of Thursday, a move endorsed as significant by Keir Starmer.
The government aims to deter individuals from using smugglers to reach the UK through these removals. However, distressing images on Friday showed children being placed onto a small boat off the French coastline. One man was observed carrying a young child on his shoulders while entering the Channel, with the vessel departing from Gravelines beach in Calais at daybreak.
In response to the criminal gangs facilitating the perilous Channel crossings, responsible for at least 78 deaths in 2024, the government has vowed to disrupt their operations. During a state visit to the UK, Donald Trump proposed utilizing the military to combat trafficking.
When asked about the President’s suggestion, Business Secretary Peter Kyle mentioned the enhanced capabilities of the UK Border Force to address such challenges. He noted the existing collaboration between the Navy and the UK Border Force, emphasizing the need for military focus on broader national defense issues.
The government is prepared to amend laws to halt the influx of small boats crossing the Channel. Peter Kyle expressed willingness to modify legislation where necessary for this purpose. Keir Starmer lauded the initial repatriation under the UK-France agreement, which stipulates detaining and removing small boat arrivals in exchange for accepting an equal number of legitimate claimants who have not attempted the dangerous crossing.
Starmer described the first repatriation as a positive development and stressed the importance of scaling up such actions in the future.