First Migrants Detained Under New UK-France Returns Deal

The UK has detained its first group of Channel migrants under a recently established return deal with France. This initiative, which advocates for the swift repatriation of individuals who arrive in the UK via small boats, officially began operation yesterday afternoon. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that these migrants will be kept in immigration removal centers until they can be sent back to France, reinforcing the message that paying organized crime gangs for passage is a dangerous gamble.

Under this pilot program, the UK plans to detain adult migrants arriving by small boats, sending them back to France for the first time as part of this agreement. This arrangement allows for one approved asylum seeker from France to come to the UK via safe routes in exchange. Meanwhile, Labour is actively working to combat smuggling operations amidst record high numbers of Channel crossings. However, reports indicate that French authorities still seem to support these crossings, essentially providing a "taxi service" for migrant boats.

The shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, remarked on the ongoing migrant crisis, citing evidence that the French authorities are facilitating these crossings, noting that despite the implementation of the Labour Government’s new plan, the situation remains problematic. Home Office statistics reveal that as many as 25,436 people have arrived by small boat this year, marking a historical high for this time frame since records began in 2018, demonstrating a significant increase in illegal crossings compared to previous years.