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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Flora Thompson and Ian Jones

More migrants have arrived in UK than were sent back under France deal

  • The UK's "one in, one out" migrant agreement with France has seen more asylum seekers arrive than depart in its initial 11 months, according to official figures.
  • Home Office data reveals 1,117 individuals travelled to Britain from France between August 2025 and June 2026, while 1,087 were deported under the scheme.
  • The deal aims to curb English Channel crossings by permitting the return of UK arrivals to France in exchange for an equivalent number of asylum seekers using safe and legal routes.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged "practical issues" in the deportation process and vowed to "ramp up the numbers" after Downing Street defended the plan.
  • Ms Mahmood is also challenging a High Court ruling that deemed her decision to reduce protections for potential trafficking victims under the scheme unlawful.

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