Nineteen migrants have been sent from the United Kingdom to France in the first group deportations under a new UK-France returns deal, marking a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to tackle illegal Channel crossings. The removals, which took place on October 9 and 10, 2025, involved two flights and followed seven individual deportations in the previous month, bringing the total number of returns under the scheme to 26, according to PA Media and the Home Office.
This pilot agreement, often referred to as a "one in, one out" deal, not only enables the UK to send back migrants who arrived illegally by small boat, but also allows an equal number of eligible migrants to enter the UK through a tightly controlled legal route. This week, nine migrants entered the UK under this reciprocal arrangement, each undergoing rigorous security checks, as confirmed by the Home Office.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has adopted a notably hardline stance since taking office, emphasizing the government’s determination to end what she calls "dangerous crossings which put lives at risk and money in the pockets of criminal gangs." In a statement released on October 10, 2025, Mahmood warned, "We are sending out a clear message: if you come here illegally, you face being detained and removed, so think twice before making that journey."
Mahmood drew a sharp contrast between the new UK-France deal and the previous government’s much-criticized Rwanda scheme. She pointed out, "The last government’s Rwanda scheme took years and cost hundreds of millions of pounds, and failed to forcefully remove a single person. In a matter of weeks, we’ve returned 26 through our historic agreement with France." The Home Secretary’s comments were echoed by footage released by the Home Office, showing migrants boarding the group flights, their faces blurred to protect their identities.
The deportation flights are part of a broader strategy to deter irregular migration and disrupt the criminal networks that facilitate dangerous Channel crossings. According to the Home Office, the National Crime Agency carried out over 350 disruptions against people-smuggling networks last year, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous year. Over 35,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK have been returned, and asylum-related returns are up 28% year-on-year. The Home Office is also issuing over 31,000 initial asylum decisions every quarter, triple the average under the previous government.
Despite these efforts, the flow of migrants attempting to cross the Channel has not abated. On the afternoon of October 9, 2025, more than 100 people were seen gathered on Gravelines beach in northern France, waiting for a small boat. According to eyewitness accounts, over 50 migrants, mostly men but also some women, rushed to board a black dinghy around 5:45 pm local time, with only some wearing life vests. The group set off into the Channel, aiming for Dover, underscoring the persistent demand for these perilous crossings despite government warnings and enforcement actions.
The UK-France treaty, agreed upon with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the summer, grants the UK new powers to detain and rapidly remove individuals who enter illegally via small boats, effectively blocking their access to the UK asylum system. The deal’s reciprocal nature is designed to balance enforcement with humanitarian obligations, as nine eligible migrants have been permitted to enter the UK this week through the legal route. In total, 18 migrants have entered the UK under the scheme, while 26 have been returned to France.
Home Secretary Mahmood has been vocal about the need for a coordinated, international approach. "This co-ordinated approach—combining decisive enforcement action, international cooperation, and controlled routes—demonstrates the government’s comprehensive Plan for Change to strengthen our borders while upholding our humanitarian obligations and dismantling the criminal networks that exploit vulnerable people," she said in a statement published by the Home Office.
The government faces mounting political pressure to deliver results on migration, particularly as Nigel Farage’s Reform party has surged in the polls on a platform critical of the government’s handling of the small boats crisis. The Home Secretary’s tough rhetoric and the rapid implementation of the returns deal are seen by many as a direct response to this political climate. Mahmood’s stance is clear: "With flights to France now underway and ramping up, we are sending out a clear message: if you come here illegally, you face being detained and removed, so think twice before making that journey."
Further flights to France are scheduled in the coming days and weeks, with both countries committed to continuously improving the process. The second group flight, which landed in France on October 9, 2025, continued on to Eastern Europe as part of the government’s regular schedule of returns flights, highlighting the broader European cooperation underpinning this initiative.
While the government touts the scheme as a success, critics point to the ongoing attempts at Channel crossings as evidence that deterrence alone may not be sufficient. The sight of over 100 migrants on Gravelines beach, ready to risk the treacherous journey to the UK, serves as a stark reminder of the desperation and determination driving these movements. The government’s challenge is to balance robust enforcement with safe, legal pathways and international collaboration, a task that remains as complex as ever.
As the UK-France returns deal moves from pilot phase to a more established program, its effectiveness will be closely watched—not just by policymakers and political opponents, but by the many individuals whose lives hang in the balance. For now, the government is betting that a combination of swift removals, reciprocal legal routes, and tough rhetoric will stem the tide of small boat arrivals. Only time will tell whether this approach will deliver the results its architects promise.
