An Indian national who is said to have come to the UK illegally in a small boat is the first person to be sent back to France under a new treaty. This is part of a new effort to stop illegal immigration over the English Channel.
The unknown individual, who is alleged to have arrived in early August, took a commercial flight from Heathrow Airport to Paris. The “one-in, one-out” pact is a trial program that is part of a larger UK-France returns accord. This is the first deportation under this deal.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK’s Home Secretary, called the deportation a “important first step to securing our borders.” She said that the move sends a clear message to people who cross the border in small boats: “If you enter the UK illegally, we will try to get rid of you.” Mahmood further promised to “keep fighting any last-minute, annoying attempts to stop a removal in the courts.” She stressed that the UK will help people who are really escaping persecution, but it must be done through “safe, legal, and managed routes—not dangerous crossings.”
The New Treaty and Immigration Crackdown: What You Need to Know
Sources at the Home Office revealed that the individual who was sent back is from India. Reports say that after he gets to France, he will be given the chance to go back to India for free. If he doesn’t agree to the voluntary program, he won’t be allowed to petition for asylum and could be deported against his will.
The new deal, which started as a pilot operation in August and will last until June 2026, lets UK authorities arrest and deport persons who come to the country illegally by small boats. This step is meant to keep them from accessing the country’s asylum system and ease the strain on housing and other resources. The UK has promised to take in the same number of migrants from France through a new “safe and legal” route, but only after “rigorous documentation, eligibility, and security checks.”
This news comes as the UK steps up its efforts to stop unlawful immigration. In August, official numbers showed that the number of Indian nationals in jail for breaking immigration laws had almost doubled in the past year, going up by 108%. The records show that 2,715 Indians were in jail. The Home Office also says that in the past year, more than 35,000 people who had no legal right to stay in the UK have been sent back.