A family of three, including a small 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 ties 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 after their claims were rejected.
However, a fifth man, from Eritrea, has temporarily blocked his deportation through a High Court ruling. The Home Office was denied permission to appeal the decision 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 government’s commitment to detaining and removing those who arrive by small boat, while also operating 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: “This is a really welcome step. No family should ever have to risk their lives in a flimsy boat just to reach safety. By opening up safe and legal routes, we not only give children and parents the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity, but we take power away from the smugglers who profit from people’s desperation.”
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 hundreds of miles away. This follows a BBC report which revealed that one journey had cost £600. The Home Office has been asked to investigate the practice urgently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About the One In One Out Immigration Agreement
1 What is the one in one out immigration agreement
Its a new UK immigration policy where for every new immigrant accepted into the country one person who is in the UK without legal permission or who has exhausted their legal stay must leave
2 Who is the first family to arrive under this agreement
A family of three has become the first to be admitted to the UK under this policy Specific details about their identity or nationality have not been widely disclosed for privacy reasons
3 Why was this policy introduced
The policy aims to control net migration by ensuring that the number of people entering the UK does not increase the overall population of immigrants balancing new arrivals with departures
4 How does the one in one out system work in practice
When an immigrant is approved to come to the UK authorities identify someone who is in the country illegally or whose visa has expired to be removed aiming for a onetoone exchange
5 What are the benefits of this agreement
Benefits include better migration management reduced strain on public services and a more predictable approach to population growth while still allowing legal immigration
6 Are there any exceptions to the rule
Yes exceptions may apply for refugees asylum seekers granted protection or in humanitarian cases but these are evaluated individually under existing laws
7 How is it decided who has to leave under this policy
The UK government prioritizes individuals who have overstayed their visas have no legal right to remain or have failed asylum claims focusing on those with the weakest legal grounds to stay
8 Could this policy lead to families being split up
The policy aims to avoid splitting families by considering individual cases but there is a risk if one family member is selected for removal while others have legal status
9 What happens if no one can be found to match the one out part
If a match isnt immediately available the policy may delay new entries or use quotas over time to maintain balance but specifics depend on government implementation
10 Is this policy similar to policies in other countries
Some countries use netzero migration concepts but a strict one in one out model is uncommon its a unique
