Another migrant who was sent from the UK to France under the government’s controversial exchange program has made his way back across the Channel, raising fresh questions about the scheme’s effectiveness.
The Home Office confirmed Tuesday that the man was detained immediately upon arrival after biometric systems identified him. Officials say he will be returned to France as quickly as possible.
This marks the second time a deported migrant has successfully re-entered Britain since the pilot program began. Last month, an Iranian man crossed back into the UK by small boat just one month after his removal to France. Authorities deported him again last Wednesday.
Exchange Program Struggles to Deter Channel Crossings
The exchange arrangement between Britain and France was designed to discourage migrants from attempting dangerous Channel crossings in small boats. The September agreement allows UK officials to return certain migrants to France after they arrive on British shores.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the program despite the repeat crossings. The official said anyone attempting to return after removal is wasting their time and money.
Biometrics detected this person and arrested him on the spot. The spokesperson added that his case would be fast-tracked and he would be taken back to France soon.
The message is simple: “If you dare to go back to the UK, you shall be deported. We are willing to do everything it takes to step up removals of illegal migrants and to protect our borders”.
The first deportation flight under the program landed in Paris on September 18, carrying an Indian national. Since then, authorities have detained roughly 100 men who arrived by small boat and sent them to immigration removal centres near Heathrow with warnings they could face removal to France.
Last week’s Home Office figures showed 94 migrants have been returned to France, while 57 people have arrived in the UK under the reciprocal arrangement.
Channel crossings continue at alarming rates despite the deportation program. More than 500 migrants crossed on Saturday alone. Another 349 made the journey on Sunday. Total arrivals for this year have climbed to 39,075.
Mahmood Eyes Danish Model for Immigration Overhaul
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is currently considering a total redesign of the UK immigration policy based on the tightening up of the Denmark model. During the September conference of Labour, Mahmood promised to do anything to reclaim control of the British borders. She has said that she has envied how Denmark has been able to push successful asylum claims to a forty-year low.
Mahmood aims to curtail the motivation of people who want to enter the UK by tightening the belt on family reunions. She also intends to accelerate the process of deporting those who are discovered to have no right to stay in Britain.
The Downing Street desisted efforts to criticise the program and cited the fact that the returning migrant can be caught, indicating that the system is working as intended.
The official spokesman of the prime minister presented the detection as a success story. The individual came and was instantly caught, and wasting his whole trip, he complained. They will be sent directly back to France, as in the former case, out of pocket and out of opportunity. The money they used to make the risky crossing did not achieve anything.
Political Critics Blast Government’s Border Strategy
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson blasted the Home Office for what he called staggering incompetence. He demanded that asylum seekers be moved out of hotels and called for comprehensive return agreements with all safe countries.
“Failures like this show just how broken our system is,” Wilkinson said. “Now is the time for Labour to back up their big promises with actions.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp indicated that close to 18,000 migrants came to the UK since the signing of the France deal. Few have been eliminated, and this is why the crossings are flooding on, he reasoned.
Philp demanded that only Conservatives possess a plausible strategy in dealing with illegal migrants. He would pull his party out of the ECHR and have all the illegal immigrants off his island in less than a week of his arrival, he alleged.
In his statement, he directed his attacks to both Labour and Reform UK. Philpowy said: “But Keir Starmer has no spine to do so, and Reform is a one-man band with no plans.
The repeated returns illustrate the continuous problems in the struggle of Britain to regulate irregular migration into the country. The arguments of critics along the political spectrum still have doubts regarding the effectiveness of the existing enforcement measures, as the number of crossings still remains high.
