UK Starts Deportations on New Returns Treaty with France

The United Kingdom has already made its first deportation under the new returns treaty with France, the deported being an Indian national who had crossed the English Channel in a small boat.

Background

The treaty has been signed in 2025 and is known as the one-in, one-out treaty, according to which the UK will deport small boat migrants to France, but will admit an equivalent number of vetted asylum seekers by legal means. In September 2025, the first deportation occurred and the migrant was flown out of Heathrow to Paris.

Government's Stand

The move was described as a crucial move towards border security, by the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. She emphasized that no one will be allowed to cross the border illegally, and the goal of the policy is to eradicate smuggling routes and encourage legal asylum.

Legal Provisions

• The returned migrants under the treaty are ineligible to seek asylum in the UK.
• France can provide voluntary going back to home countries, otherwise coerced removal can be done.
• The treaty expires in June 2026 and there will be frequent deportation flights.

Indian Nationals in Focus

According to current statistics, the number of Indian detainees in the UK has increased by 108 per cent in the recent years with 2,715 being held under the immigration law. This increasing trend can be pointed out by the fact that the first deported individual is Indian.

Broader Implications

A bilateral approach to migration control is reflected in the treaty, giving both balance between border protection and humanitarian duties. The UK would like to decrease irregular entries, lower the cost of accommodation in a hotel and simplify asylum procedures by admitting vetted asylum seekers in France.