Thursday, September 18, 2025 -The UK has completed its first deportation under the new migration agreement with France, sending back a man who arrived across the Channel by small boat in August.
The deal, struck between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, requires Britain to return irregular arrivals while accepting an equal number of asylum seekers from France with family or eligibility ties.
The government hailed the move as proof the agreement is working, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling it a step toward stronger border control. But rights groups and campaigners have raised alarms, warning the rapid process risks sending back victims of trafficking or abuse before their claims are fully examined.
Legal challenges are already testing the plan. One Eritrean man facing removal has had his case paused in court, highlighting the friction between the government’s push for swift enforcement and humanitarian concerns. The deportation underscores the political weight of migration in the UK and the fragile balance between deterrence and protection.
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