The Home Office has unveiled video footage showcasing the initial round of collective deportations of migrants arriving in small boats, as part of an agreement with France.
In the past week, two group flights have repatriated 19 individuals back to France, with the most recent flight touching down in France earlier today before proceeding to Eastern Europe.
The video from the first group flight displays individuals boarding the plane with their identities concealed.
This development follows the removal of seven people from the UK last month, following a deal brokered with French President Emmanuel Macron during the summer.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood cautioned individuals contemplating the journey to the UK via small boats to reconsider their plans. She highlighted the stark contrast with the failed Rwanda initiative by the previous government, which cost £700 million and saw only four voluntary departures from the UK.
As the government faces mounting pressure to address the small boats predicament amid a surge in support for Nigel Farage’s Reform party, Mahmood is anticipated to adopt a stringent stance on fortifying Britain’s borders.
Mahmood emphasized, “We must halt these perilous crossings that endanger lives and fund criminal organizations. The disparity is evident. The Rwanda program of the prior government was costly and ineffective, while through our accord with France, we have successfully returned 26 individuals in a matter of weeks.”
“With flights to France now operational and increasing, we are signaling a clear message: illegal entry will lead to detention and deportation, so reconsider before embarking on that journey.”
Under the UK-France pact, asylum seekers undertaking the hazardous Channel voyage will be sent back to France, while an equivalent number with valid claims will be permitted entry into Britain.
Additional flights to France under this trial initiative are slated for the near future.
This week, nine people arrived in the UK from France through the newly established legal pathway after undergoing security screenings. Overall, 18 individuals have entered the UK, while 26 have departed, according to Home Office data.