The controversial 'one in, one out' agreement between the UK and France on Channel crossings is set to end in October, according to French media reports. The deal, which allows the UK to return asylum seekers who arrive by small boat to France in exchange for bringing others legally to the UK, has been widely criticised by NGOs and migrants as unjust and inhumane.
Figures released by the Home Office show that between September last year and 9 June this year, 921 asylum seekers were returned to France, while 896 were brought to the UK legally. However, in just one week from 15 to 22 June, 1,939 migrants arrived in the UK on small boats, highlighting the ongoing crisis.
Migrant advocacy groups have condemned the scheme. Doctors Without Borders described it as 'a cynical bargaining over human lives', reporting cases of acute stress disorder and disorientation among those returned to France. Asylum seekers sent back have told the Guardian they received little support and faced threats of being returned to countries like Syria.
The Home Office has welcomed the EU's Channel action plan, announced on 18 June, which aims to replace the bilateral approach with a more coordinated EU-level response. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed the agreement with France has been extended until the autumn, ensuring removals continue over the summer.
Critics question whether the deal has acted as a deterrent, as people smugglers in France are now making detours, extending journeys from France to the UK by up to 80 miles. Some migrants returned to France have attempted to cross again, leading to an amendment allowing France to accept back those who return by lorry.
