UK France migrant deal drives thousands across Channel

More than 2,500 people have crossed the English Channel in 11 days since the one in one out scheme began.

UK France migrant deal drives thousands across Channel

Over 2,500 people have crossed the English Channel in 11 days after the one in one out pilot started. The scheme is part of a deal announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during Macron's visit to the UK. The first group to be detained under the plan was held in Dover, and removals to France could take up to three months. The project is set to run for 11 months and aims to balance inbound asylum seekers who have not yet crossed with those who pass security and eligibility checks.

Officials say the aim is to disrupt smuggling networks and show that international cooperation is needed to tackle illegal immigration. Labour has promised to crack down on the gangs but cautioned that results will take time. The National Crime Agency reports some success in disrupting the smugglers, while authorities in Bulgaria recently seized 20 inflatable boats believed destined for the Channel, signaling cross border cooperation.

The plan tests more than border control. It tests how quickly authorities can move people through the asylum system and how reliable removals are as a deterrent. If deportations lag, the scheme risks appearing symbolic rather than practical, inviting debate about costs and fairness. The policy also hinges on partners in Europe, which can complicate timelines and politics at home. In the months ahead, watchers will assess whether this approach lowers risky crossings or just reallocates them, and whether public support holds when numbers stay high.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal whether the plan translates into real change or simply shifts the flow of people seeking asylum.