A migrant was repatriated to France in accordance with a new ‘one in, one out’ agreement. The individual, an Indian national who recently arrived in the UK via a small boat, was flown back to France on Thursday morning. This development marks a significant achievement for the Government following negotiations with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood praised the deportation as a crucial initial measure, with additional flights scheduled for the coming week. Under the terms of the deal, asylum seekers undertaking perilous sea crossings will be removed, while an equal number of individuals with valid asylum claims will be permitted entry.
Ms. Mahmood emphasized the significance of safeguarding the country’s borders, warning illegal entrants that they will face removal. She vowed to challenge any eleventh-hour legal tactics aimed at obstructing deportations. While affirming the UK’s commitment to assisting those genuinely seeking refuge, she stressed the necessity of utilizing safe and legal pathways instead of hazardous crossings.
The deportation followed a series of setbacks, including a temporary reprieve granted to an Eritrean man due to a legal challenge. The Home Office has lodged an appeal seeking to expedite the man’s obligation to provide evidence.
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive at Refugee Council, expressed reservations about the agreement, emphasizing the need for fair and competent implementation. He urged authorities to ensure that vulnerable individuals, such as trafficking survivors and children, are not forced onto repatriation flights and are afforded the opportunity to present their cases.
As discussions around the returns deal intensify, a recent report suggested that increasing cooperation with France could reduce small boat crossings by 75% within three years. Former Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke advocated for a pragmatic and humane approach to address the asylum situation, citing public support for admitting up to 50,000 refugees under a ‘one in, one out’ arrangement.
While the initial intake is set at 50 individuals per week, British Future recommends scaling up this figure significantly. Despite the Home Office’s imminent implementation of the returns, the process faced a setback when the High Court temporarily halted one of the planned deportations.
According to a report by British Future, expanding the refugee intake could garner public backing if coupled with reciprocal arrangements with France. Drawing parallels to successful border control strategies in the US, the report emphasized the potential for a substantial reduction in illegal crossings through a collaborative approach.