By Muhammad Salman |M10news| 7 August 2025
The UK government has confirmed the first detentions under its newly brokered migrant returns deal with France, marking a significant development in the two nations’ joint approach to tackling illegal Channel crossings.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that individuals who arrived in the UK via small boats were detained under the provisions of the new bilateral agreement, and preparations are now underway for their removal back to France.
“We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France,” Starmer said in a statement. “If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it.”
According to the Home Office, the migrants were intercepted and detained after arriving on a small vessel in UK waters on Tuesday. The department said arrangements are being made for their return, with French authorities expected to process the referral within the next 14 days.
One-in, One-out Policy Activated
The deal includes a one-in, one-out policy aimed at regulating cross-Channel migration.
Under the agreement, individuals currently residing in France with legal claims to settle in the UK will be permitted to apply for legal entry. Conversely, those who arrive in Britain unlawfully will be subject to deportation back to France.
In a move to operationalise this policy, the Home Office confirmed the launch of an application portal for eligible applicants in France seeking to legally move to the UK.
The government hopes the new pathway will serve as a deterrent to migrants considering dangerous crossings facilitated by organised criminal networks.
Government Hails Treaty as “Groundbreaking”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the development as a milestone in UK immigration enforcement and praised the treaty as “ground-breaking.”
She said the group of migrants detained at Western Jet Foil will remain in custody until French authorities process their return.
“That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat,” Cooper stated.
While acknowledging that the policy was still in its infancy, Cooper expressed confidence in the strategy’s long-term impact on curbing irregular migration routes.
“It is early days, and this policy will develop over time,” she admitted. “But we are on track to do what no other government has done since this crisis first started — sending small boat arrivals back to France and strengthening our borders.”
Mounting Pressure Over Channel Crossings
The announcement comes amid mounting political pressure to address the ongoing crisis of illegal migration across the English Channel. In recent years, thousands of people have risked their lives attempting to reach the UK in overcrowded or unsafe vessels, often with the aid of smuggling gangs.
Previous returns deals have faltered over bureaucratic delays and disputes over jurisdiction, but both Paris and London have vowed to ensure this new agreement yields measurable results.
The move is also seen as a crucial test of Starmer’s leadership on immigration and border enforcement, with critics and supporters alike watching to see if the returns policy can be sustained at scale.
The Home Office maintains that early implementation will be closely monitored and adapted as needed to ensure fairness, legality, and operational efficiency.
