19 migrants deported to France as part of ‘one in one out’ returns deal
19 immigrants were deported to France within the scope of the government’s return agreement with France.
The migrants were sent to France on two flights, one of which took place on Thursday.
This follows seven deportations last month.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said flights across the Channel “continue and increase” and sent a message to immigrants trying to cross the UK by small boat: “If you come here illegally, you risk being detained and deported, so think twice before embarking on this journey.”
Ms Mahmood said: “We must put an end to these dangerous crossings that endanger lives and put money into the pockets of criminal gangs.
“The contrast could not be clearer. The last government’s Rwanda plan took years, cost hundreds of millions of pounds and failed to forcibly displace a single person.
“Thanks to the historic agreement we made with France, we returned 26 of them within a few weeks.
“While flights to France continue and accelerate, we are sending a clear message: If you arrive here illegally you will be detained and deported, so think twice before embarking on this journey.”
