First migrants detained in UK under new UK-France returns deal

The first migrants have been detained under the UK’s new “one in, one out” agreement with France.

They risked the Channel crossing on Wednesday, the day the pilot scheme came into force.

The scheme was set up as part of a deal announced by the Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to the UK in July.

The Home Office said those detained will be held in immigration removal centres until they are returned to France.

Under the arrangements of the new deal, the Home Office has confirmed it will refer those being returned to France to French authorities within three days.

France will be expected to respond within two weeks, and those currently in detention will be briefed on how they will be returned to France.

On the other side of the Channel, the reciprocal part of this new deal is expected to begin on Thursday, with migrants able to submit an expression of interest to come to the UK.

Applicants must satisfy certain criteria, including uploading a passport or other identity document as well as a recent photograph. Those selected will have to pass further security checks before being granted passage to the UK.

Those accepted would be given three months in the UK to claim asylum or apply for a visa, and would be subject to the same rules for all asylum seekers, not allowed to work, study or have access to benefits.

“No one should be in any doubt, anyone who arrives from now on is eligible for immediate detention and return,” said the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil and will now be held in detention until they can be returned to France.

“That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat.”

She continued: “Criminal gangs have spent seven years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make.

“These are the early days for this pilot scheme, and it will develop over time. But we are on track to do what no other government has done since this crisis first started.”

The Conservatives have criticised the reported low levels of returns this pilot scheme is set to make.

Speaking on Thursday, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Keir Starmer’s promise last year to ‘smash the gangs’ has turned out to be nothing more than a gimmick that didn’t work, and this is just the same.

“If 94% of illegal immigrants crossing the Channel get to stay in the UKm that quite clearly won’t act as any deterrant at all.”

He added: “I suspect this will get mired in endless legal wrangling.”