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An Eritrean national who arrived in the UK via small boat has secured a last-minute legal injunction at the High Court, temporarily preventing his removal to France.
The 25-year-old, who reached the UK on August 12th, was scheduled for return on Wednesday under the ‘one in, one out’ returns pilot program agreed upon between the UK and France.
In the first legal challenge to the agreement, his legal representatives successfully argued before the High Court in London that he required additional time to present evidence suggesting he may be a victim of modern slavery.
Counsel for the Home Office contended that he could have sought asylum in France and had not presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that it was not a safe country.
Furthermore, they argued that delaying his removal could incentivize others scheduled for return flights this week to make similar claims.
Announcing the judgement on Tuesday evening, Mr. Justice Sheldon stated, “I am going to grant a short period of interim relief.”
Documents filed at the High Court indicate that the man, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, departed Ethiopia for Europe two years ago, arriving in Italy in April 2025.
He subsequently left for France, where he received assistance from charitable organizations, including the Red Cross, before his mother reportedly paid $1,400 (£1,024) to smugglers to facilitate his Channel crossing to the UK.
The court was informed that, during his initial screening interview with British officials, he stated he had not been exploited and had received payment for his labor in Libya.
When questioned about why he had not sought asylum prior to arriving in the UK, the man responded that he had observed individuals sleeping on the streets in Europe and concluded that adequate support was unavailable.
Officials maintained that he should have sought asylum in those countries, as he was not under the control of trafficking networks.
The ‘one in, one out’ scheme was announced in July by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Under the agreement, France has agreed to accept the return of migrants who traveled to the UK by small boat and whose asylum claims have been withdrawn or deemed inadmissible. In return, the UK will accept a refugee with a legitimate claim for protection who has not attempted to cross the Channel.
The first returns to France were anticipated to commence as early as Tuesday.
The Home Office confirms that no single male asylum seekers will be housed at the Northallerton hotel.
An inquest in Bournemouth heard that safeguarding staff had emailed concerns regarding Leonard Farruku’s mental health.
A number of asylum seekers have been relocated from hotels to former student accommodation in Aberdeen.
Epping Forest District Council is actively working to prevent The Bell Hotel from being used to house asylum seekers.
A suspect has been charged in connection with threatening and abusive behavior following a demonstration near the Cladhan Hotel.
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