A pilot scheme between the UK and France aims to limit the number of small boats crossing the Channel. Illegal migrants will be detained and returned to France in exchange for a like number of asylum seekers accepted from France, given they pass eligibility checks. The UK government plans to expedite returns, with reports suggesting a potential return of 50 migrants per week. The agreement follows significant increases in crossings, with over 25,000 recorded in 2025 so far, intensifying the pressure on the government to respond effectively.
The UK-French "one-in, one-out" pilot scheme has begun, allowing for the detention and return of illegal migrants crossing the Channel in exchange for asylum seekers from France.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has characterized the agreement as a product of "months of grown-up diplomacy," aimed at delivering tangible outcomes in controlling migrant crossings.
The agreement permits the return of migrants whose asylum claims are deemed inadmissible, while the UK government plans to increase the scale and pace of returns during the pilot.
As of July 30, over 25,000 individuals crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025, reflecting a significant increase and highlighting the government's pressure to act.
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