Guards escorting one in, one out' migrants fell asleep on deportation flight'

"Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it."

"Guards escorting migrants back to France under the one in, one out scheme fell asleep on a deportation flight, a report into removals has revealed. A report from the prisons inspectorate published on Monday also said the migrants being deported to France were unable to understand what was happening because interpreters weren't available. The controversial one in, one out scheme, which launched last August, returns small boat migrants to France in exchange for other asylum seekers."

The Independent seeks donations to fund journalism across topics from reproductive rights to climate change and Big Tech, and chooses not to use paywalls so reporting remains free for all. A prisons inspectorate report found guards escorting migrants back to France under the one in, one out scheme fell asleep on a deportation flight and interpreters were not available, leaving deportees unable to understand proceedings. The pilot, launched last August, has returned 305 of 367 people recorded under the programme. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the pilot proved the concept but French capacity and limited UK detention space restrict expansion. Inspectors monitored a Stansted-to-Paris removal flight that included 20 male detainees, 58 escorts and two paramedics.

Read at www.independent.co.uk