UK to Begin Migrant Returns to France Under New Bilateral Agreement

UK to Begin Migrant Returns to France Under New Bilateral Agreement
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Britain will start returning some migrants arriving by small boats to France within days, following the ratification of a new bilateral treaty—CNN reported. The “one in, one out” pilot scheme, announced last month by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, will see undocumented migrants returned to France in exchange for Britain accepting legitimate asylum seekers with family ties in the UK.

The agreement aims to disrupt people-smuggling networks and reduce illegal crossings, which have exceeded 25,000 in 2025 so far. Although exact figures were not disclosed, UK officials estimate around 50 returns per week under the scheme.

French and British interior ministers have emphasized the deal’s objective to tackle smuggling gangs. Critics argue the plan’s scale may be too limited to serve as a deterrent, but the UK government insists it forms part of a broader migration strategy approved by the EU.