Migrant removed to France returns to UK on small boat
According to information obtained by BBC News, a migrant who was taken to France less than a month ago as part of the “one in, one out” program returned to the UK on a small boat.
Guardian newspaper reported He claimed the man was a victim of modern slavery at the hands of trafficking gangs in France.
The Home Office declined to directly confirm the report but said an immigrant had been detained and was asked to be removed as soon as possible.
Within the scope of the program in which England agreed to accept asylum seekers with protection cases, 42 people who came to England illegally have been deported so far.
The BBC understands the man is an Iranian national and was first detained on August 6 and deported on September 19, making him the third person sent to France under the scheme. He returned four days ago, on October 18th.
The male immigrant, who the Guardian did not name, told the newspaper that he returned to the UK because he feared for his life in France.
Regarding the treatment he received at the hands of smugglers, he said: “They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, harassed me, threatened me with a gun, and told me that I would be killed if I objected even the slightest.”
Asked about the report, a Home Office spokesman said: “We will not accept any abuse of our borders and will do everything we can to remove those who have no legal right to be here.
“Anyone who returns to the pilot and subsequently attempts to re-enter the UK illegally will be removed.”
Human Rights Network Director Maddie Harris told BBC News her organization was in direct contact with the Iranian man.
He said: “From a very early age [after his removal] He was experiencing intense fear as a result of his experience at the hands of smugglers.
“While in France he received appalling treatment from people arranging travel to the UK.”
He said the man returned because he “felt he had no protection in France and feared that these people might continue this appalling treatment.”
He also said his organization had seen cases where people were returned under the scheme if they had “compelling” evidence of mistreatment and were unable to obtain “adequate legal advice” during the “hurried” removal process.
Asked about the “one in, one out” plan on Wednesday, a Downing Street spokesman said: “We have been clear about the deal with France that this is the start of a landmark plan that is not a silver bullet in itself.”
Separately, the BBC spoke to an Eritrean man in France who said he had also been sent back as part of the programme.
The man, who asked to be given his name as Jonas, said he fled his country because he feared religious persecution during mandatory military service.
Jonas said he traveled to the UK via Belarus, Poland and France and crossed the Channel on a small boat with 71 other people, some of whom have now been granted asylum in the UK.
Jonas said he believed he was arbitrarily selected for deportation and told the BBC he was detained for two months before being flown to France.
Asked why he believed he was singled out for deportation, he said: “I don’t know. The only reason they say ‘You came from the safe country’ – but that’s not just me. How many people are going through? Three thousand, four thousand [per month]?”
He said Jonas, who is currently living temporarily in a refugee center in Paris, was unlikely to be deported from the European Union to Eritrea, but he feared he would be jailed if he returned.
The plan, announced in July, aims to deter people from crossing the Channel and encourage migrants to seek asylum on the continent. Twenty-three people returned to France.
According to the agreement, France agreed to take back immigrants who arrived in England on a small boat and whose asylum requests were rejected.
For each person returned to France, the UK agreed to accept as a refugee someone who had a protection case and had not tried to cross the Channel.
On Sunday, the Home Office said 16 people were taken to France on a single flight, the largest group removal so far under the programme.
The Iranian man’s return to the UK took place on Wednesday with the arrival of small boats; This meant that the number of attempts to cross the Channel this year exceeded the 36,816 recorded in 2024.
An official figure won’t be confirmed until Thursday.
The record number of arrivals for a single year was 45,755 in 2022, with this year’s rate following closely behind that.
Home Office figures show there were no crossings in six of the last seven days, but 369 people made the journey on October 18.
