Two larger groups of migrants have been returned to France as part of what the Home Secretary describes as an intensified “one in, one out” agreement.
The government stated that nine individuals were removed on Thursday, following a group of 10 the previous week. Prior removals have typically involved fewer people.
This brings the total number returned to France under the agreement to 26, while the UK has accepted 18 individuals in return.
Ministers hope the scheme will deter irregular migration to the UK via small boats by signaling potential removal to France, with vetted asylum seekers being accepted in exchange.
However, the Home Office confirmed on Thursday that 1,075 migrants crossed the Channel the day before.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the recent return of larger groups sends a “clear message” for individuals to “think twice” about attempting to enter the UK irregularly.
“We must put an end to these dangerous crossings which put lives at risk and money in the pockets of criminal gangs,” Mahmood asserted.
Thursday’s operation involved diverting a scheduled deportation flight to Eastern Europe to France to disembark the nine individuals.
The Home Office has indicated that further flights are scheduled “over the coming days and weeks”.
The first removal under the UK-France agreement occurred in September, with the scheme slated to continue until June 2026.
Since the start of 2023, over 33,500 individuals have crossed the Channel in small boats.
Last month, 125 people made the crossing in a single vessel, marking the largest recorded number to cross in one boat.
French authorities report having prevented over 17,600 attempted crossings this year.
Deaths have outnumbered births in Scotland for a decade but record levels of immigration mean the population is still rising.
Details of the new conditions refugees will have to meet are to be set out later in the autumn.
Keir Starmer has linked the rise in small boat arrivals to Brexit, describing the crossings as “Farage boats”.
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to “smash the gangs” which smuggle people across the English Channel.