“One in, One out”: Migrant Removed to France Returns to UK on Small Boat
A migrant who was deported to France under the United Kingdom’s “one in, one out” immigration arrangement has reportedly crossed the Channel again and returned to Britain by small boat less than a month after removal, PulseNets learnt.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, the individual — identified as an Iranian national — was detained on 6 August and deported to France on 19 September, making him the third person to be sent under the bilateral asylum exchange deal. However, the same man allegedly re-entered the UK on 18 October, citing fears for his life and mistreatment while in France.
The migrant, whose name remains withheld for legal reasons, is said to have claimed that he was a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smuggling gangs operating in northern France.
“They treated me like a worthless thing — forced me to work, abused me, and even threatened me with a gun, saying they’d kill me if I spoke up,”
the Iranian national reportedly said, according to individuals who spoke to PulseNets.
The Home Office, while declining to confirm specific case details, stated that the government was committed to enforcing immigration laws strictly.
“We will not tolerate any abuse of our borders. Anyone attempting to re-enter the UK illegally after removal will be detained and removed again,”
a Home Office spokesperson told PulseNets.
So far, 42 individuals have been deported under the UK-France “one in, one out” pilot programme — a deal where Britain sends back certain Channel crossers and, in return, accepts asylum seekers with verified protection claims from France.
Rights Group Confirms Contact with Iranian Man
Maddie Harris, Director of Humans for Rights Network, confirmed her organisation had been in contact with the man since his deportation.
“From very early on after his removal, he was extremely afraid — deeply traumatised by what he went through with smugglers,”
Harris told PulseNets.
She alleged that the migrant faced “horrendous treatment” in France and felt “unprotected and unsafe”, adding that her organisation has seen other deportees with “compelling evidence of abuse” who were removed “without proper legal advice” during what she described as a “rushed deportation process.”
Downing Street Reacts
When asked about the development, a Downing Street spokesperson reaffirmed that the UK’s cooperation with France is a long-term strategy to reduce irregular migration.
“This landmark scheme is the beginning of a coordinated effort with France, though it’s not a silver bullet,”
the spokesperson told PulseNets.
Another Deportee Speaks Out
Separately, PulseNets obtained reports of another migrant — an Eritrean man identified only as Jonas — who was also returned to France under the same deal. Jonas said he fled Eritrea due to religious persecution linked to the country’s mandatory military service.
“I don’t know why they picked me. They just said, ‘You came from a safe country.’ But thousands cross every month,”
Jonas told PulseNets from a refugee centre in Paris.
Jonas explained that he had travelled through Belarus, Poland, and France before crossing the Channel with 71 others, some of whom have since been granted asylum in the UK. He fears returning to Eritrea, saying he would face imprisonment if sent back.
Background of the UK-France Deal
The “one in, one out” migration pilot, announced in July, was designed to discourage illegal Channel crossings and promote asylum applications within the European continent. Under the agreement, France receives deported migrants who entered the UK illegally, while the UK accepts verified refugees from France.
On Sunday, the Home Office confirmed that 16 migrants were flown to France on a single chartered flight — the largest group removal since the pilot began.
Surge in Channel Crossings
The Iranian man’s re-entry comes as small boat arrivals in the UK continue to rise. PulseNets learnt that as of Wednesday, the number of crossings this year has surpassed 36,816, overtaking the 2024 total.
Also Read: UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Vows to Deport Nigerian, Other Illegal Migrants Under Trump-Style Border Plan
An updated figure is expected on Thursday, but data suggests that 2025 is on track to rival the record 45,755 crossings recorded in 2022.
Home Office figures further revealed that 369 people made the journey on 18 October, the only day with crossings out of the previous seven.
