The UK Home Office has confirmed that a second illegal migrant who had been sent from the UK to France under the government’s “one in, one out” deal has returned to the UK.
This follows a similar incident in October when an Iranian man re-entered the UK by small boat one month after being removed to France. He has subsequently been deported back to France.
The Home Office confirmed that the second migrant was immediately identified and detained after being identified using biometrics.
“Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
“This individual was detected by biometrics and detained immediately. His case will be expedited, and he will be returned to France as quickly as possible.
“The message is clear: if you try to return to the UK you will be sent back. We will do whatever it takes to scale up removals of illegal migrants and secure our borders.”
On 5 August, the UK-France Returns Agreement came into effect. This treaty enables the return of small boat arrivals from the UK to France, with an equal number of individuals eligible to come to the UK through a new legal route.
The first return under the UK-France agreement occurred on 18th September 2025. The pilot will initially run until June 2026, allowing both countries to test and refine this new approach.
A total of 94 people have been returned through the pilot, and 65 people have been brought to the UK through the IN route. These people have undergone full documentation, security, and eligibility checks. 5,200 foreign national offenders have been deported – a 14% increase on the same period 12 months prior.
“The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better,” a Home Office spokesperson said on Friday (7 November).
“This government is taking action. We have detained and removed more than 35,000 who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“But we must go further and faster – removing more of those here illegally and stopping migrants from making small boat crossings in the first place.”
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