An Iranian migrant who made headlines for returning to the UK by small boat less than a month after being removed to France under the government’s “one-in, one-out” migration scheme has been removed once again, according to Home Office sources. The man, whose name has not been disclosed, was first removed from the UK to France on September 19, 2025. Yet, in a dramatic twist emblematic of the ongoing challenges facing Britain’s migration system, he crossed the Channel back into the UK on October 18, 2025, only to be detected, detained, and removed again on November 5, 2025.
The saga has thrown a spotlight on the UK’s current approach to irregular migration, especially as the number of people arriving by small boat continues to rise. As reported by BBC News and other outlets, the Iranian man claimed he was a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smuggling gangs in France. In an interview with The Guardian, he described his ordeal in harrowing terms: “They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, abused me, and threatened me with a gun and told me I would be killed if I made the slightest protest.” His account underscores the complex and often perilous circumstances faced by migrants caught in the web of cross-border smuggling networks.
Following his return to the UK, the man’s case was expedited after biometric checks flagged his identity, leading to his detention and subsequent removal. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood issued a stark warning to others contemplating similar journeys. “Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money,” she stated, as quoted by BBC News. “My message is clear: if you try to return to the UK you will be sent back. I will do whatever it takes to scale up removals of illegal migrants and secure our borders.”
The so-called “one-in, one-out” scheme is part of a treaty between the UK and France aimed at managing the flow of asylum seekers and irregular migrants. Under this agreement, the UK can return certain individuals to France if they have previously sought asylum there or have no legal right to remain in the UK. In exchange, the UK has agreed to take in asylum seekers from France who have a legitimate claim for protection and have not attempted to cross the Channel illegally.
To date, the Home Office reports that 94 migrants have been removed from the UK under the treaty, while 57 asylum seekers have been accepted from France. The numbers, though modest, reflect the broader challenge of managing migration across the busy English Channel amid mounting political and public pressure.
As of October 21, 2025, official figures show that 36,734 people had arrived in the UK by small boat this year—a striking increase of 8,530 compared to the same date in 2024. However, this number is still 869 fewer than at the same point in 2022, which remains the highest year on record for such crossings. The persistence of these dangerous journeys has kept the issue at the forefront of British politics, with lawmakers and advocacy groups divided over the best path forward.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was quick to seize on the Iranian migrant’s case as evidence of government mismanagement. She declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the episode showed the government was “in total chaos” and “too weak to take the tough decisions to secure our borders.” This criticism reflects the broader frustration among some segments of the public and political class, who argue that current policies are insufficiently robust to deter irregular migration and protect the integrity of the UK’s asylum system.
On the other side of the debate, human rights advocates have raised concerns about the welfare of migrants caught in the crossfire of increasingly stringent border policies. Maddie Harris, director of the Humans for Rights Network, told BBC News that her organization had been in contact with the Iranian man. She described him as experiencing “acute fear” following his first removal from the UK, a state exacerbated by what she called “horrendous treatment at the hands of the people who are organising journeys to the UK” while he was in France.
The government’s approach has included not only the UK-France treaty but also a pledge to end the use of asylum hotels—a measure that has cost the public billions of pounds and become a flashpoint for anti-migrant protests in recent years. The hotels, originally intended as a temporary solution, have become a symbol of the wider crisis, with local communities and activists often at odds over their presence.
The current Labour government’s handling of migration marks a significant departure from the policies of its Conservative predecessors. Under the previous government, plans were passed to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, a controversial proposal that faced a barrage of legal challenges. Ultimately, only four people were sent to Rwanda before the scheme was scrapped by the new administration, which cited both legal and ethical concerns.
The Iranian migrant’s repeated removals have become a touchstone in the larger debate over Britain’s migration strategy. For those advocating for stricter controls, his case is emblematic of what they see as loopholes and failures in the current system. For others, it highlights the desperate circumstances that drive individuals to risk everything for a chance at safety and security, only to find themselves shuttled back and forth across borders.
As the government faces ongoing pressure to demonstrate results, the Home Office has maintained that it will continue to pursue removals of those without legal grounds to remain in the UK. At the same time, officials insist that genuine asylum seekers with compelling protection needs will be considered under existing international obligations.
The story of this unnamed Iranian man is but one thread in a much larger tapestry of migration, policy, and human resilience. It illustrates the immense complexity of managing migration in an era of global displacement, as well as the profound personal costs borne by those who find themselves caught between borders and bureaucracies.
With migration numbers showing no sign of abating and the political stakes as high as ever, the UK’s approach to border security and asylum is likely to remain a contentious—and deeply human—issue for the foreseeable future.
