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Deportation

UK's "One-in, One-out" Deal with France: Deportation and Detention of Irregular Migrants

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The UK's Government has announced that an Iranian national, who was detained for attempting to cross the Channel into the UK, will be deported back to France for the second time. The individual had been returned to France on September 19 but had re-entered the UK on October 18. Children's Minister Josh MacAlister stated that the incident shows the "one-in, one-out" deal with France is working, and that those attempting to cross the Channel in small boats will be deported.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK's "one-in, one-out" deal with France aims to deter small boat crossings by enabling deportations of individuals deemed not to have a right to stay in Britain.
  • The treaty means people who arrive in the UK by small boat can be detained and returned to France, in exchange for an equivalent number of people who applied through a safe and legal route.
  • The individual in question is an Iranian national who was detained and deported back to France on September 19, but re-entered the UK on October 18, claiming to be a victim of modern slavery.
  • Children's Minister Josh MacAlister stated that "this shows the scheme working" and that the individual will be deported again.
  • The minister noted that the individual's re-entry was due to being a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smugglers, and that France is a safe country.
  • The total number of small boat arrivals for the year has exceeded the total for 2024, with 36,954 migrants having arrived in the UK so far this year.
  • The "one-in, one-out" deal was struck between Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year.

Statistics:

  • 220 people made the journey in three boats on Wednesday, bringing the total number of small boat arrivals for the year to 36,954 (Source: Home Office).
  • The total number of small boat arrivals for 2024 has exceeded the total for 2023, with 36,954 migrants having arrived in the UK so far this year.
  • The UK's "one-in, one-out" deal with France aims to deport individuals deemed not to have a right to stay in Britain, in exchange for an equivalent number of people who applied through a safe and legal route.

Sources:

  • ITV Meridian, "'One-in, one-out' migrant return scheme working, says government" [no date provided]
  • Times Radio, Interview with Josh MacAlister [no date provided]
  • The Guardian, "Migrant who crossed Channel in small boat after being sent back to France claims to be a victim of modern slavery" [no date provided]
  • Home Office, Latest small boat arrivals figures [no date provided]

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