A July agreement between the UK and France on migrant returns took effect Tuesday, the British Home Office announced. The agreement mandates the immediate detention and return to France of anyone entering the UK via unsafe boats. Detentions are expected to begin in the coming days.
Under a "one-for-one" system, an equal number of migrants will be allowed into the UK through a legal channel, provided they haven't attempted illegal crossings, possess complete documentation, and pass stringent security and eligibility checks.
Adult migrants crossing the Channel will be returned to France if their asylum claims are deemed inadmissible. Immigration services have reserved detention spaces, and Border Force has a plan to identify and process inadmissible migrants for removal.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the agreement "groundbreaking," stating it allows for the return of those making dangerous illegal crossings while welcoming legal applicants who meet eligibility criteria and rigorous security checks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who prioritizes combating irregular immigration, hailed the agreement as unprecedented and revolutionary. Over 38,000 people arrived in the UK by small boats in the year to March, a 22% increase year-on-year.