Migrant Returns to UK Weeks After Being Deported Under New France Deal
LONDON, October 23, 2025 — A migrant who was among the first to be deported to France under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” migrant deal has returned to Britain by small boat less than a month later, reigniting fierce debate over the government’s Channel migration policy.
Junior minister Josh MacAlister confirmed the report on Thursday, saying that the individual — who was unnamed for legal reasons — will be deported again under the terms of the bilateral migration agreement with France.
“This guy came across originally, shouldn’t have been coming across, was smuggled across and paid a lot of money to do so, was then returned to France,” MacAlister told Sky News. “He has done the same again. He has paid again, and he will be returned again. We will make sure that happens.”
The “One In, One Out” Migration Agreement Explained
The UK-France migration deal, signed in July 2025 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, allows Britain to deport undocumented migrants who cross the English Channel back to France in exchange for accepting an equal number of asylum seekers with family connections in Britain.
The government hailed the plan as a “ground-breaking deterrent” designed to “smash the gangs” responsible for human trafficking and reduce illegal small boat crossings — one of Starmer’s key election pledges.
However, the return of one of the first deportees just 29 days after removal has raised questions about the policy’s effectiveness. British newspapers highlighted the story with headlines such as “One In, One Out… and Back In Again” and the Daily Mail’s “Le Farce”.
Migrant Cites Modern Slavery and Exploitation
According to a Guardian report, the migrant claimed to have been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smugglers operating in Northern France. The case underscores the complex realities facing migrants who are often caught between trafficking networks, asylum restrictions, and policy loopholes.
Advocacy groups argue that deportation alone does little to address the root causes of migration, including human rights abuses, exploitation, and unsafe living conditions for those stranded in French camps near Calais and Dunkirk.
Channel Crossings Hit Record Highs in 2025
The Home Office confirmed that 36,954 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far in 2025, already surpassing last year’s total of 36,816 and making this year the second-highest on record after 2022.
So far, 42 migrants have been returned to France under the pilot phase of the new scheme. But critics warn that unless enforcement is paired with stronger border security and cross-border anti-smuggling operations, repeat crossings will continue to challenge UK authorities.
Opposition parties and legal experts have also raised concerns about international law compliance, as well as the cost of repeated deportations.
Political and Public Reaction
The incident has sparked a political backlash across Westminster. Supporters of the Labour government argue that isolated cases should not undermine the broader goal of deterring illegal migration, while opposition figures say it exposes “the fundamental weakness” of the current system.
Immigration policy analysts note that the UK-France migration partnership remains in its early stages, with both sides still testing operational procedures. French officials have not commented publicly on the individual case but reaffirmed Paris’s commitment to cooperation on border management.
Outlook: Policy Under Pressure as Crossings Continue
With winter approaching and crossings still rising, the UK government faces mounting pressure to demonstrate real results. Analysts say success will depend on how effectively the policy can balance deterrence, humanitarian obligations, and bilateral cooperation with France.
For now, the migrant’s swift return — and the promise of another deportation — has reignited the debate over whether Britain’s newest border strategy is a symbolic gesture or a sustainable solution to one of the country’s most persistent challenges.
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