The first flight carrying migrants under the UK-France agreement has successfully landed in Paris, marking a significant step in the initiative aimed at curbing small boat crossings in the English Channel. An Indian national was deported from the UK on a French flight, as the government pushes back against a High Court ruling that temporarily halted the deportation of Eritreans citing modern slavery concerns.
Interior Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the importance of this development for border security, asserting that illegal entrants will be removed. Since the scheme began in August, approximately 5,590 migrants have arrived in the UK. More deportation flights are scheduled, and the UK plans to expedite removal processes for migrants contesting their deportations.
The agreement, termed the “One in One Out” deal, intends to deter crossings by ensuring that for every migrant sent back to France, another who has established a strong asylum case can enter the UK. This initiative aims to discourage reliance on smugglers and promote safe migration routes, although concerns have been raised about its impact on victims of trafficking. The program is also designed to reduce the number of migrants in temporary accommodations by facilitating quicker asylum processes.
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