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UK to begin returning migrants to France under new ‘1 in, 1 out’ deal
The UK government said it was ‘operationally ready’, and migrant detentions are expected to begin ‘within days’
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A deal between London and Paris under which Britain can return some migrants who cross the Channel in small boats back to France will come into force on Tuesday, the UK Home Office announced.
The agreement, which was struck between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s state visit to the UK last month, involves a “one in, one out” scheme to curb record levels of irregular Channel crossings.
The two governments signed the final text last week, with the EU Commission giving its “green light on this innovative approach”, the UK Home Office said in a press release on Monday.
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UK authorities are “operationally ready” and migrant detentions are expected to begin “within days”, it added.
Under the scheme, migrants arriving to UK shores on small boats may be detained and returned to France if they are deemed ineligible for asylum.
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In exchange, Britain will accept an equal number of migrants from France who can apply for asylum via an online platform, giving priority to nationalities most vulnerable to smugglers and to people with ties in Britain.
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