A family of three, including a young child, has become the first group to arrive in the UK from France under Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” agreement, according to the Home Office.
This follows the removal of four asylum seekers from the UK to France over the past six days, despite ongoing legal challenges. The deal, signed in July by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, allows the UK to detain asylum seekers who cross the Channel and return them to France. In exchange, the UK accepts a similar number of asylum seekers with family connections in Britain.
The first person to be removed under the agreement was an Indian national who arrived by small boat in August and was flown from Heathrow to Paris last Thursday. Since then, three more men—from Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran—have also been sent to France. However, a fifth man from Eritrea has temporarily blocked his deportation after a High Court ruling, and the Home Office was denied permission to appeal on Tuesday.
The developments come just days after Donald Trump urged the Prime Minister to deploy the military to stop small boat crossings, which recently reached a record high. He warned that illegal migration could “destroy” countries. In response, Business Secretary Peter Kyle suggested the Royal Navy could be called upon “if needed” to address the issue.
A Home Office spokesperson described the UK-France deal as a “historic agreement” and emphasized the commitment to detain and remove those arriving by small boat while establishing a legal route for eligible migrants after security checks.
On Friday, more than 1,000 people reached the UK by small boat, bringing this year’s total to over 32,000. Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council welcomed the new arrivals under the scheme, stating that safe and legal routes help protect families and undermine people smugglers.
In a separate matter, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered a review into the use of taxis, funded by the public, to transport asylum seekers from hotels to medical appointments—sometimes over long distances. A BBC report highlighted cases where journeys cost hundreds of pounds, prompting the Home Office to investigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the news that a family of three has become the first to arrive in the UK under the new one in one out immigration agreement
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is the one in one out immigration agreement
Its a new policy where for every new immigrant granted permission to live in the UK the government aims to remove one person who is in the country without legal permission
2 Who was the first family to arrive under this agreement
A family of three consisting of two parents and their child who were relocated from a safe third country Their specific nationality has not been widely publicized to protect their privacy
3 Where did this family come from
They arrived from a safe third country that has an agreement with the UK This is typically a country like Rwanda which has a partnership with the UK for such relocations
4 Why is this family being allowed in if the policy is one in one out
The policy is about the overall numbers The idea is that the arrival of this family is balanced by the removal of someone else who has no right to remain keeping the net migration figure stable
Advanced Questions
5 How does the government decide who gets to come in under this scheme
The government selects individuals whose asylum claims are deemed admissible under the terms of the international agreements often prioritizing those who are particularly vulnerable like families with children
6 What happens to the person who is out
The person identified for removal is typically someone who has exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the UK and has no right to asylum or other forms of leave They are returned to their home country if it is safe or to a safe third country
7 What are the main benefits of this policy according to the government
The government argues it will deter dangerous and illegal channel crossings break the business model of human smugglers and help control overall immigration numbers in a more predictable way
8 What are the common criticisms or problems with this approach
Critics say it is inhumane logistically complex and expensive may violate international law and the UKs human rights obligations and does little to address the root causes of migration
