UK and France End Controversial 'One In, One Out' Migrant Return Pilot

The British government has confirmed that its pilot agreement with France to return some migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats has been discontinued. The arrangement, which had been in operation for just over a year, allowed the UK to send back a portion of small boat arrivals while simultaneously accepting an equivalent number of people from France who were deemed to have legitimate grounds for entering Britain.

Under the scheme's structure, the UK would return individuals who had arrived via small boats and, in exchange, take in the same number of people from France whose claims to come to Britain were considered valid. The pilot represented an attempt to create a structured, reciprocal mechanism for managing cross-Channel migration, though its practical impact remained limited throughout its lifespan.

The BBC has learned that the government would have preferred to keep the scheme running, but concluded that it had not achieved the scale officials had hoped for. Only around 1,500 people were removed to France since the programme began a little over a year ago, a figure that fell well short of expectations.

A Home Office spokesperson addressed the decision, stating that insights gained from the pilot would be applied to speed up broader efforts to remove small boat migrants who do not have the right to remain in the UK. The spokesperson confirmed that the pilot with France to exchange asylum seekers for an equal number of legal migrants is no longer processing new cases.

Despite the discontinuation, the spokesperson indicated that removal flights will continue in the coming weeks to ensure the swift departure of small boat migrants from the UK. The government intends to draw on what it learned during the pilot to bolster its overall strategy for returning individuals who lack permission to stay.

The spokesperson also emphasised that the UK would maintain its partnership with France on tackling small boat crossings, and pointed to what was described as real progress, noting that arrival numbers are significantly lower than the previous year. The French Interior Ministry confirmed to the BBC that discussions over the terms of the agreement's exit are ongoing.

Earlier in the month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged before MPs that the scheme had not been without its challenges. She noted that the numbers involved remained relatively small and described the operational difficulty of scaling up weekly removals into the French system at a very large volume.

However, Mahmood also highlighted a deterrent effect reported by the United Nations and other agencies, which observed that some migrants were choosing not to board small boats because they believed there was a possibility of being accepted under the "one in, one out" arrangement. This suggested that even a limited programme could influence decision-making among potential migrants.

Channel crossings have become the primary method by which people are detected entering the UK illegally since 2020. Between 1 January and 27 September 2026, a total of 19,135 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France, representing a 42% decrease compared with the same period the previous year, when 32,188 crossed.

Nearly all individuals arriving by small boat claim asylum. Under international law, this entitles them to remain in the country while their applications are processed. Small boat arrivals accounted for 40% of asylum applications between July 2025 and June 2026, underscoring their significance within the broader immigration and asylum system.

The scale of these crossings remains a focal point for the government, which has pledged to "smash the gangs" responsible for organising them. Boats arriving in the UK from 28 September 2025 to 27 September 2026 carried an average of 67 people, more than double the figure recorded in 2021. Experts warn that overcrowding makes these journeys increasingly dangerous, and at least 84 people died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations.

In terms of nationalities, people from Eritrea made up 18% of all arrivals between July 2025 and June 2026. The top five countries of origin for small boat arrivals during that period were Eritrea with 5,875 arrivals, Sudan with 4,191, Afghanistan with 4,042, Somalia with 3,901, and Iran with 3,657. These figures illustrate the diverse origins of those making the perilous journey.

Beyond small boat crossings, another 4,712 people were detected entering the UK without permission through other means, including hiding in vehicles, travelling on ferries, or passing through airports, between July 2025 and June 2026. This represented a 17% decrease compared with the same period the year before. Additionally, some individuals arrive legally on work or study visas and subsequently overstay their limits, though the total number of people living in the UK illegally after legal entry is not known.

Home Office data from January 2025 to December 2025 revealed that at least 2,335 people who arrived by small boat were identified as potential victims of human trafficking or other forms of modern slavery. This statistic highlights the vulnerability of many individuals making these crossings and the complex humanitarian dimensions of the issue.

The discontinuation of the pilot raises questions about the future direction of UK-France cooperation on migration. While both governments have expressed a commitment to continued collaboration, the end of the reciprocal return arrangement removes a key mechanism that had been presented as part of a broader effort to manage Channel crossings.

As the UK seeks to accelerate removals and reduce the incentive for dangerous journeys, the lessons drawn from the pilot will inform subsequent policy. The coming weeks will see continued removal flights, while discussions with France over the formal exit terms proceed. How effectively the government can scale up returns and deter future crossings remains a central challenge in its immigration strategy.