Afghan and Somali returned under pilot scheme as Eritrean man secures court reprieve against deportation…reports Asian Lite News
Two more people have been returned to France under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s flagship “one in, one out” immigration scheme, taking the total number of deportations to six. The latest removals, understood to be an Afghan and a Somali national, were carried out on Thursday morning as the government presses ahead with its high-profile pilot arrangement with Paris.
The scheme, agreed with French ministers in July, is designed to deter the record numbers attempting to reach Britain across the Channel in small boats. In return for every migrant sent back to France, the UK has pledged to accept one asylum seeker through a designated safe and legal route, provided they have not previously attempted to enter the country unlawfully.
The policy aims to blend deterrence with controlled compassion, combining swift removals with a path to sanctuary for those deemed eligible. Ministers believe this will break the model of the smuggling gangs responsible for the dangerous crossings, while providing a tangible alternative for vulnerable people in need of protection.
On Wednesday, the first beneficiaries of the arrangement arrived in Britain – a family of three, including a small child. Officials said their case had been processed jointly with French authorities and subjected to what the Home Office described as “rigorous documentation, eligibility and security checks”. The family is now being accommodated in the UK while their asylum claim is considered.
The latest returns follow the deportation of four individuals last week: two Afghans, an Iranian, an Eritrean and an Indian national. According to Home Office sources, each case was individually assessed against the scheme’s eligibility criteria before removal was authorised.
The returns are intended to demonstrate that the government’s new approach is operational and enforceable, addressing criticism that Britain has for years failed to establish a credible returns agreement with France or other EU countries following Brexit.
Despite the fresh initiative, the scale of Channel migration remains daunting. More than 32,000 people have arrived in Britain after crossing in small boats so far this year, a record high for the period. The perilous journeys, often made in overcrowded dinghies, have led to repeated tragedies and escalating political pressure on ministers to deliver results.
Starmer has insisted the “one in, one out” deal is part of a broader strategy that includes intensified cooperation with French border forces, strengthened policing against smuggling gangs, and new safe routes for refugees. “This is about restoring order to a broken system,” a senior government source said. “It shows we can be firm against illegal entry while remaining true to our international obligations.”
Yet the policy has already encountered legal turbulence. On Wednesday, the Home Office was denied permission to challenge a High Court ruling that temporarily blocked the removal of an Eritrean man scheduled to be sent back to France under the scheme.
The judge granted the claimant a 14-day window to present evidence in support of his claim that he was a victim of modern slavery. Lawyers for the man argued that deportation would expose him to further harm and deny him access to necessary support services in the UK.
The government said it respected the ruling but maintained that “robust legal safeguards” were embedded in the agreement to protect the vulnerable. The case is likely to be closely watched as a test of how the courts balance the new framework with existing human rights and trafficking protections.
The removals have drawn sharp responses across the political spectrum. Opposition MPs accused the government of “trumpeting tiny numbers” while failing to address the root causes of migration. Human rights groups warned that the scheme risks reducing complex asylum cases to a “numbers game”.
Conservative critics, meanwhile, argued the deal still falls short of a comprehensive returns policy with the EU. “Sending six people back is a start, but it does not begin to match the scale of the crisis,” one backbench MP said.
Officials describe the current operations as a pilot, with numbers expected to increase in the months ahead. Negotiations are ongoing with France over how many people could be returned under the arrangement each week and how many asylum seekers will be transferred to Britain in exchange.
For now, ministers are keen to emphasise that the process is working as intended. “The public wants fairness, security and compassion,” a Home Office spokesperson said. “This agreement delivers all three.”
As the first family settles into life in Britain and six individuals make their way back across the Channel, the future of Starmer’s immigration strategy rests on whether the delicate balance of deterrence and resettlement can withstand the pressures of rising arrivals, ongoing legal challenges and political scrutiny.
