For the first time under a landmark UK-France agreement, the British government is set to begin deporting migrants back to France next week, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s ongoing struggle to manage record numbers of Channel crossings. The initiative, known as the “one in, one out” deal, was signed in July 2025 and represents a significant shift in how the UK approaches its migration crisis—one that has become a flashpoint in national politics and public debate.
According to Sky News, the Home Office will return migrants to France starting the week of September 15, 2025, with the first deportation flights expected as early as Monday. The move comes after the government detained the first group of migrants under the new scheme on August 6, 2025. Formal removal directions have since been issued to those asylum seekers, informing them they will be flown back to France within five days. The pilot program is scheduled to run until June 2026, giving officials a window to assess its effectiveness and impact.
The deal’s mechanics are straightforward but unprecedented. Under the agreement, the UK can send people back to France if they entered Britain illegally—most commonly by crossing the English Channel in small boats. In return, the UK will accept a matching number of approved asylum seekers from France, but only if they have not previously attempted illegal entry. This reciprocal arrangement aims to discourage dangerous crossings while offering a legal pathway for those seeking refuge.
The numbers driving this policy shift are stark. As reported by The Telegraph and Evening Standard, more than 30,000 migrants have crossed the Channel into the UK so far in 2025. This is the earliest point in any calendar year that such a figure has been reached since data collection began in 2018. The surge has fueled not only logistical and humanitarian concerns but also a wave of public anger that has catapulted immigration to the top of voters’ concerns for the first time since Brexit.
That frustration boiled over on September 13, 2025, when up to 150,000 people marched in London around Westminster in a protest dubbed “Unite the Kingdom,” organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The demonstration, which devolved into clashes with police, resulted in 25 arrests and left 26 officers injured. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, condemned the violence as “completely abhorrent,” emphasizing that those responsible would face legal consequences. Yet, she also acknowledged a deeper issue, telling Sky News, “There is clearly an issue in this country at the moment about immigration and migration. People clearly feel let down by a government that came in and said they were going to ‘smash the gangs’. And what we’ve seen is an increase in migration.”
Trott’s remarks reflect a broader sense of disillusionment among the public, who have watched successive governments promise tough action on illegal migration with little apparent effect. She further accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of lacking direction, calling him a “rudderless prime minister.”
On the other side of the aisle, Business Secretary Peter Kyle sought to reassure the public that the government is taking decisive action. Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Kyle stated, “We are straining at the bit to get a grip on the migration crisis,” attributing the current situation to what he described as a “disastrous inheritance” from the previous Conservative administration. He added, “The lesson is that by cooperating with our partners, France, rather than rowing with them, we are able to deliver. So I hope the flights will start as quickly as possible.”
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has been charged with ramping up the UK’s response to small boat crossings, echoed this urgency. She told reporters earlier in September that she expected the returns to begin “imminently,” and formal removal directions have already been issued to asylum seekers who arrived on small boats last month. According to The Telegraph, these individuals have been notified that they will be deported to France within five days.
The Home Office has been clear about its priorities. In a statement to Evening Standard, a spokesperson said, “Under the new UK-France treaty, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France. We expect the first returns to take place imminently. Protecting the UK border is our top priority. We will do whatever it takes to restore order to secure our borders.”
The operational details of the scheme are intricate. Once migrants are identified for deportation, the Home Office refers their cases to French authorities within three days. France then has up to 12 days to respond, as outlined by The Telegraph. If the referral is accepted, the migrant is flown back to France. In exchange, an approved asylum seeker in France can be brought to the UK through a safe and legal route. Those seeking to come to Britain must meet suitability criteria, go through the standard visa application process, and pass security checks. If accepted, they are given three months in the UK to claim asylum or apply for a visa, but they are not permitted to work, study, or access benefits during this period.
This reciprocal process is designed to balance border security with humanitarian obligations, though it has not escaped criticism. Advocates for migrants warn that the scheme could leave vulnerable people in limbo, while some political factions argue it does not go far enough to stem illegal crossings. The government, however, maintains that cooperation with France is the key to success, a point emphasized by Peter Kyle: “The lesson is that by cooperating with our partners, France, rather than rowing with them, we are able to deliver.”
Public debate around the policy remains fierce. Some view the returns as a necessary step to restore order and deter dangerous crossings, while others see it as a symbolic gesture unlikely to address the root causes of migration. The government’s determination is clear, but so too is the scale of the challenge. With Channel crossings at record highs and the political stakes rising, all eyes will be on the first flights next week—and on whether this pilot scheme can deliver the results its architects promise.
As the first flights prepare to depart, Britain stands at a crossroads. The coming weeks will test not only the logistics of the new returns deal but also the government’s ability to regain public trust and chart a sustainable path forward on migration.
