The UK is currently in talks with France over a new migrant deal that could see small boat arrivals returned across the Channel, in exchange for Britain accepting legal asylum seekers with family ties in the country.
The proposed “one-for-one” agreement would mean that for every illegal migrant sent back to France, the UK would take in a legitimate asylum seeker under family reunification rules. The scheme is being pitched as a pilot, but if successful, it could eventually be rolled out across the EU, reported the Express.
With Channel crossings reaching alarming levels — nearly 9,000 people have arrived this year, up 46% on the same period in 2023 — both governments are under pressure to curb the surge. Just this week alone, over 700 migrants arrived in 12 small boats on a single day, despite grim weather and worsening sea conditions.
France’s interior ministry confirmed that negotiations with the UK are ongoing, saying the aim is not only to cut illegal crossings but to dismantle smuggling networks exploiting vulnerable people. The ministry stressed that under the deal, “for each legal admission under family reunification, there would be a corresponding readmission of undocumented migrants.”
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood addressed the talks in Parliament on Wednesday, but avoided giving specific details. She did, however, make the government’s intentions clear: “We want to stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that’s happening across the English Channel.”
France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, echoed the same sentiment, saying the returns would “send a clear message,” and act as a strong deterrent to those considering the treacherous journey.
The surge in crossings has triggered renewed debate over the government’s approach to migration, especially after a recent weekend saw over 650 people arrive in just 11 boats. With smuggling operations becoming increasingly sophisticated, officials on both sides of the Channel are scrambling for solutions that are tough, yet legally and ethically defensible.
While the deal is still being hammered out, it’s already facing scrutiny from critics who question whether France will agree to take back large numbers of people — and whether the UK’s asylum system is equipped to handle more legal claims.
But with record-breaking arrivals showing no signs of slowing, it’s clear that something has to give. If this pilot scheme takes off, it could mark one of the biggest shake-ups in UK migration policy in years.
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