LONDON, August 5, 2025 — Britain will begin returning migrants who arrive via small boats to France within days, following the ratification of a landmark treaty aimed at curbing illegal Channel crossings.

The agreement, announced last month by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, introduces a “one in, one out” pilot scheme. Under the deal, undocumented migrants arriving in the UK will be sent back to France, while Britain will accept an equal number of asylum seekers from France—provided they have legitimate claims and family ties in the UK.

🔁 Treaty Details and Implementation

• The treaty was signed last week and officially ratified today.
• Detentions of new arrivals are expected to begin by the end of the week.
• Immigration removal centers have been prepped, and Border Force teams are ready to process returns.
• The pilot scheme will run until June 2026, with potential for expansion.

📊 Scope and Scale

• Initial target: 50 returns per week, totaling approximately 2,600 per year.
• Over 25,000 migrants have arrived via small boats so far in 2025.
• The UK government says the plan is designed to undermine criminal smuggling networks and restore border control.

🗣️ Government Statements

Prime Minister Starmer called the treaty “the product of months of grown-up diplomacy, adding:

If you come here illegally on a small boat, you will face being sent back to France.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the crackdown on organized crime:

This is an important step toward dismantling the business model of people smugglers.

⚖️ Legal and Political Reactions

• The European Commission and EU member states have approved the plan.
• Critics, including refugee charities, argue the weekly quota is insufficient and call for more legal pathways.
• The Home Office says it has learned from past legal challenges and will “robustly defend” the treaty in court.

🔍 What’s Next

The pilot will be closely monitored, with both governments committed to reviewing its effectiveness. If successful, it could serve as a blueprint for broader European cooperation on migration management.