UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Britain deported 16 migrants to France under the UK-France deal, raising total removals to 42 as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged tighter border controls.
As reported by The Independent, the Home Office said 16 more migrants who entered the UK illegally were sent back to France this week. This brings the total deported under the UK-France deal to 42.
The Home Office expects more flights in the coming days, with the number of migrants arriving under the agreement now at 23.
Shabana Mahmood’s stance on migrant deportations
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated,
“For many years, illegal migrants entered our country with no consequence. This is the largest return flight under our historic deal with the French.”
She said,
“And it sends a warning to those considering entering this country illegally: if you come here by small boat, you can be sent back.”
Ms Mahmood added,
“This is just the beginning – I will scale up these removals to France. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.”
UK-France ‘one-in, one-out’ deal
The UK-France “one-in, one-out” deal was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The agreement aims to curb dangerous crossings of the English Channel.
Officials said the recent deportations were a day after several small vessels were seen crossing the English Channel. The number of migrants crossing the Channel this year has surpassed 36,000. This represents around a 33% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
Martin Hewitt, UK border security chief, called small boat arrivals “frustrating,” saying efforts to stop smuggling “will always take time.”
The commander of Britain’s Border Security, in post for a year, rejected claims it is a “fool’s errand” to target smuggling gangs. He insisted that the current plan “will succeed.”
Ministers remain focused on addressing the “upstream” factors driving illegal crossings.
Sir Keir Starmer will hold a summit with Western Balkan officials will take place next week to reduce illegal migration to the UK.
Keir Starmer’s views on the UK-France deal on illegal crossings
Sir Keir Starmer stated,
“This ground-breaking deal is a crucial further step in turning the tide on illegal small boat crossings and restoring order to our immigration system.”
He said,
“For the first time illegal migrants will be sent back to France – targeting the heart of these gangs’ business model and sending a clear message that these life-threatening journeys are pointless.”
Mr Starmer added,
“By resetting our relationships across Europe we’ve made levels of co-operation possible never seen before. This is about grip not gimmicks, and what serious government looks like – taking down these criminal enterprises piece by piece as we secure our borders through my Plan for Change.”
Number of illegal migrants in the UK
Around 49,000 irregular small boat arrivals were detected in the year ending June 2025, with 88% of these arriving via small boats crossing the English Channel, making small boats the predominant entry method for irregular migrants.
Over 27,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats by mid-2025, marking a record pace compared to previous years, with total arrivals via small boats for 2025 likely exceeding previous highs.