UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A family of three became the first asylum seekers to arrive in the UK under the new “one in, one out” deal with France, amid record Channel crossings.
As reported by The Independent, a family of three has become the first group to arrive in the UK under the government’s “one in, one out” scheme with Paris.
How will the UK’s ‘one in, one out’ deal affect Channel crossings?
Under the July deal between the UK and France, Channel migrants will be returned to France, and Britain will take in an equal number with family ties.
Last Thursday, the first rejected asylum seeker under the scheme was flown from Heathrow to Paris. The individual, an Indian national, arrived in August by small boat.
A fifth man from Eritrea has won a High Court ruling temporarily blocking his deportation, with the Home Office denied permission to appeal on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a family including a young child became the first to arrive in Britain under the new legal route.
After the return to France began, over 1,000 migrants arrived, putting pressure on the Prime Minister to demonstrate that the plan is working.
Under the pilot “one-in, one-out” scheme, a small number of Channel migrants, initially around 50 per week, will be sent back to France immediately.
At first, the scheme covers only adults, since children arriving illegally are not held in detention.
Critics have said the agreement affects only a small number of migrants, with just about one in 20 arrivals being returned to France.
Images of thousands of migrants arriving by small boats have become politically sensitive, with the Prime Minister vowing to succeed where his predecessors failed in controlling the crossings.
Many arrivals are housed in hotels while their asylum claims are processed, costing taxpayers billions.
Ministers aim to discourage risky Channel crossings by demonstrating that migrants could be returned to France immediately.
Home Office’s views on the new Channel migration scheme
A Home Office spokesperson said, “The UK-France deal is a historic agreement and these are critical first steps.”
They added, “We will continue to detain and remove those who arrive by small boat. And we will work with France to operate a legal route for an equal number of eligible migrants to come to the UK subject to security checks.”
How did Trump suggest the UK tackle record small boat crossings?
Just days after record Channel crossings, Donald Trump urged the Prime Minister to “call out the military” to stop small boats, warning illegal migration can “destroy” nations.
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West dismissed Trump’s proposal, saying the UK cannot easily send boats back to France.
How is Shabana Mahmood responding to reports on asylum seeker taxi bills?
In a separate move, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered a review into the multimillion-pound use of taxis to transport asylum seekers from hotels to healthcare appointments.
The BBC reported that asylum seekers were taken by taxi to medical appointments hundreds of miles away, with one trip costing £600.
Accessing four migrant hotels, the broadcaster noted that taxis were continuously coming and going. After the report, Home Secretary Mahmood called for a review of the costs of transporting asylum seekers.
A Home Office spokesperson stated, “The home secretary has asked the department to urgently look into the use of taxis to transfer asylum seekers.”
Key facts about the asylum seekers in the UK
The UK received 111,084 asylum claims in the year ending June 2025, up 14% from last year. About 39% arrived by small boats and 37% via visas before claiming asylum.
The top nationalities were Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Most applicants were adult men (62%), while children made up 18%.