A High Court judge has blocked the deportation of a 25-year-old Eritrean man under Labour’s “one in, one out” agreement with France, casting doubt on the future of the policy. The ruling halts the removal of the migrant, who challenged the legality of the scheme.
The “one in, one out” deal, struck between the UK and France, allows for the deportation of certain migrants from Britain in exchange for accepting an equal number of asylum seekers from France. The Eritrean man’s case is the first to test the agreement in court.
Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that the removal could not proceed until the legality of the policy is fully examined. The decision raises questions about the viability of the scheme, which Labour had touted as a key part of its immigration strategy.
The Home Office has yet to comment on whether it will appeal the ruling. Legal experts suggest the case could set a precedent for future deportations under the agreement, potentially undermining the government’s efforts to manage cross-Channel migration.
