Home Secretary Yvette Cooper won’t put a number on migrant returns to France
Interior Minister Yette Cooper refused to put a figure on how many immigrants will be returned to France within the scope of a new plan that came into force today.
Some immigrants coming to the UK on small boats will be detained and will return to France within the scope of an agreement with the French President Emmanuel Macron.
On the other hand, the UK will accept asylum seekers who do not try to pass and can exceed safety and conformity controls.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the plan was “the product of adult diplomacy for months,” this will “give real results”, but the conservatives will “make no difference.”
As of July 30, more than 25,000 people passed the channel on small boats in 2025 – about 49% higher in 2024.
British and international law prevents the government from sending asylum seekers back to their countries before taking into account and rejecting their claims. However, they can be sent to safe countries that are preparing to consider their claims.
Within the scope of the plan, an adult immigrant trying to go to England by passing the channel can be returned to France, considering that the asylum claims are unacceptable. Refunds may begin to take place within weeks.
The BBC understands that everyone who comes to the UK will be considered unacceptable, but mental health and safety checks will still be held, and then she understands that conformity screening will be made for detention and lifting.
However, Cooper would not be drawn about how many returns would be made, and it was an experiment by emphasizing the start of the plan.
BBC told Breakfast that there were two reasons for not specifying numbers at this point.
“First of all, these numbers will change and increase and we have not selected a general number for the schema, but we want it to increase as much as possible.
“But the second is, because we will not provide operational information about the numbers which days and criminal gangs will use to continue to fold the inferior trade in humans.”
There are reports that 50 people can be returned per week compared to the weekly average of more than 800 people who are currently switching.
Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at Oxford University Migration Observatory, said that the number of benefits should be higher to have a deterrent effect.
When asked if 50 returns per week will have an effect on the transitions, “The current arrival rate will have a chance to return to 5%.
“People are already taking such a big risk, entering their lives by entering a small boat, so you should imagine that this kind of one is not enough to move the needle.
“Small boat arrival is a very clear sign of lack of control on the border. These are unauthorized, and therefore people are worried.”
The government is under pressure to reduce numbers by promising to “break the gangs” by organizing journeys.
Sir Keir said that the “turning” acre pilot plan with France was not a “silver bullet”, but he believes that after a major increase in this year’s figures, it will prevent people from making dangerous journey.
In July, Emmanuel announced the agreement with Macron, but was still subjected to legal examination by the European Commission and EU member states.
At this point, he criticized the issues of philanthropy and criticized: “The only way to prevent people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe ways to look for shelters.”
The British government now means that “the EU Commission, Germany and other member states give a green light to this innovative approach”, “the plan can continue.
On Monday, the government announced 100 million pounds to stop the smugglers of the people who organized transition to 300 national criminal agencies officers.
He also said he wanted to fight against illegal work by reducing the drawing factors that encourage people to come to England.
Conservative Shadow Interior Minister Chris Philp said the government’s agreement with the French would be less effective than the previous conservative government’s Rwanda plan proposed by the previous conservative government.
“Rwanda, the deterrence where 100% of illegal arrival will be removed, was ready to go last summer, but the Labor Party only canceled days before the appropriate spare plan started.” He said.
“As a result, this year has been the worst for illegal immigrants who have passed the channel so far.”
