Under a new trial program, the UK will start sending back migrants who arrive in small boats to France in a matter of weeks, according to Sir Keir Starmer. As part of the “one in, one out” agreement, the UK would take an equal number of asylum seekers in exchange for returning certain arrivals to France, subject to security checks.
The prime minister said the proposal would demonstrate that efforts to cross the Channel in tiny boats would “be in vain” while speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron at the conclusion of a three-day official visit.
According to reports, up to fifty persons would be repatriated each week under the initiative; however, Sir Keir did not provide any data. He said that if the “ground-breaking” idea proved effective, it would be expanded and help “break the model” of the people smugglers. A global crisis, an EU crisis, and a crisis for our two nations,” he declared, referring to illegal migration.
Since statistics started to be collected in 2018, over 170,000 migrants have entered the UK on tiny boats. Nearly 20,000 arrived in the first half of 2025, setting a new high for this year’s numbers. According to Macron, the plan would have a “deterrent effect” that goes beyond the amount of money recovered.
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