A migrant who had been repatriated to France as part of the recently implemented “one-in, one-out” agreement has re-entered the UK using a small boat, it has been revealed.
The individual has been apprehended, and the Home Office is reportedly making arrangements to return him to France once again. The asylum seeker, who remains unidentified, expressed his reason for returning, citing concerns about his safety in Paris.
In an interview with The Guardian, he stated, “If I believed that France was a secure place for me, I would not have come back to the UK.” Sharing his experiences, he mentioned being taken to a shelter in Paris where he felt unsafe to venture out due to fear for his life, citing the presence of dangerous smugglers wielding weapons and knives. He narrated his ordeal of falling prey to a human trafficking network in the forests of France before crossing to the UK from France for the first time, where he faced threats of violence if he resisted.
As per a recent agreement finalized in July, individuals arriving in the UK via small boats can be detained and returned to France, with an equivalent number of asylum seekers with valid claims being sent back in return.
The government asserts that this arrangement aims to discourage people from paying substantial amounts to traffickers and intends to escalate the number of repatriations.
A spokesperson from the Home Office emphasized, “We are committed to preventing any exploitation of our borders and will take all necessary measures to deport those who do not have the legal right to stay. Individuals returned under the pilot scheme who attempt illegal re-entry into the UK will be removed.”
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is in discussions with leaders from the West Balkans in London to negotiate agreements on migration and organized crime, given that an estimated 22,000 individuals were smuggled by criminal gangs through the region last year.
The influx of migrants arriving in the UK via small boats has surpassed 36,000 in 2025, nearing the total arrivals of 36,816 recorded in 2024.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticized the handling of borders by the previous administration, stating, “Our borders were left in disarray by the former government, and the repercussions persist. These statistics are deplorable, and the British populace deserves better.”
She affirmed the government’s proactive measures, highlighting the detention and removal of over 35,000 individuals residing illegally in the country. Mahmood underscored the effectiveness of the new accord with France, leading to the repatriation of individuals arriving via small boats.
She concluded, “However, more decisive actions are imperative – deporting additional illegal residents and preventing small boat crossings. I am resolute in my commitment to reinstate order at our borders.”