Eritrean Migrant Sent Back to France Under UK-France Deal
An Eritrean man has become the second person deported from the UK to France under the government’s new “one in, one out” migrant agreement. His removal came after a last-minute court appeal failed, with judges ruling there was no legal reason to block the flight. The man, who had crossed the English Channel by small boat in August, was placed on an early morning Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris, accompanied by Home Office officials.
This move is part of the pilot scheme agreed between the UK and France, introduced in July, which allows Britain to send migrants back across the Channel in exchange for France sending over asylum seekers who have applied legally. The aim is to discourage dangerous small boat crossings by showing that those arriving illegally may simply be sent back.
The man’s lawyers had argued that he might have been a victim of trafficking and should not be removed, but the court did not accept this. Mr Justice Sheldon, who oversaw the case, said the man had given differing accounts of his trafficking claims and that his credibility had been damaged. He also stated there was a strong public interest in continuing with the deportation, since the government is trying to crack down on people smuggling operations.
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Once in Paris, the Eritrean migrant was handed directly to French police officers. Speaking briefly before being led away, he told reporters he felt “very bad” about being sent back and admitted he had no idea what he would do next. His journey to the UK had been long—he originally fled Eritrea in 2019 to escape forced conscription, travelling through Ethiopia, South Sudan, Libya, and then France, before attempting the Channel crossing.
This case comes at a crucial time for the government, which is under heavy pressure to prove it can control irregular migration. Another Eritrean man had successfully delayed his deportation earlier in the week by raising trafficking concerns, but this second attempt was rejected. Meanwhile, an Indian national was deported to France a day earlier without legal challenge.
The Home Office recently changed its policy on modern slavery claims to make it harder for Channel migrants to block removal flights. Under the new rules, migrants can only appeal such decisions once they are already outside the UK. Ministers argue this prevents last-minute legal challenges from disrupting deportations, though critics warn it could put vulnerable people at risk.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed the latest removal, saying it showed that if people enter the UK illegally, the government “will seek to remove them.” She added that further flights are planned. However, the number of migrants currently being held under the scheme—around 100 men near Heathrow—suggests more legal battles are likely to follow.
Despite the high-profile removals, small boat crossings have not stopped. On the very morning of the Eritrean man’s deportation, several boats carrying migrants were reported leaving French beaches, taking advantage of calmer weather. The “one in, one out” deal, both governments acknowledge, will not end the crossings entirely—but it has become a symbolic test of how serious the UK is about reshaping its migration policies.
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