UK and France in talks over migrant returns deal

The UK government is currently in discussions with France over a potential pilot scheme aimed at returning illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel in small boats. In exchange, the UK would accept legal migrants under family reunification criteria.

According to France’s interior ministry, the proposed plan operates on a "one-for-one" basis, where each legal family reunification case would correspond with the return of one undocumented migrant who arrived illegally. The goal is to disrupt and deter people-smuggling networks.

This initiative comes amid criticism from the Conservative Party, which claims that Labour’s decision to cancel the Rwanda deportation scheme has removed a key deterrent against illegal migration. The UK’s Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, acknowledged that discussions with France are ongoing, though she refrained from confirming the existence of any formal returns deal. She emphasized the need to combat the dangerous smuggling operations occurring across the Channel.

The plan, first reported by the Financial Times, is part of a broader effort to reduce illegal crossings and could potentially lay the groundwork for a wider migrant return agreement among EU countries. A French interior ministry spokesperson stated, “The scheme is based on a one-for-one principle: for each legal admission through family reunification, there would be a matching return of an undocumented migrant.”

Peter Walsh, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory, noted that the effectiveness of this measure will largely depend on how many small boat migrants are actually returned to France. He added that, in the short term, the UK would still be responsible for processing a significant number of asylum seekers, but returning large numbers might eventually serve as a deterrent.

In 2023, the former Conservative government had already agreed to provide France with nearly £500 million over three years to enhance border enforcement and reduce illegal crossings.

Critics from the Conservative Party, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, argued that the current Labour government’s approach will be ineffective, as it would result in only a small fraction of illegal migrants being returned to France. He stated that most illegal entrants would still end up staying in the UK, thereby undermining any deterrent effect. Philp defended the previous Rwanda policy, which intended to send some migrants to East Africa as a disincentive, though it never materialized due to legal obstacles and was ultimately scrapped by Labour.

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson criticized the proposed scheme, calling instead for stronger border controls. He described the agreement as overly complex and costly, and urged the government to prioritize reducing the overall number of illegal migrants rather than simply trading places with other countries.

The Liberal Democrats expressed support for the initiative, describing it as a step in the right direction. A party spokesperson said, “We need to end these dangerous crossings. The Conservatives talked tough but failed to deliver.”

The Green Party has not yet issued a response.

In 2023, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed interest in reaching an EU-wide returns agreement, though such a deal has yet to materialize. Observers note that some EU nations—such as Hungary—are likely to oppose any unified approach due to their strict stance on migration.

Meanwhile, the UK government has continued its focus on tackling smuggling operations. Earlier this year, it introduced new legal measures, including a specific criminal offence for endangering lives at sea, carrying a sentence of up to five years.

Officials have acknowledged that no single solution can fully resolve the issue of illegal migration. The returns pilot is one of several strategies being explored as part of a broader policy framework.

According to the latest Home Office figures, 705 migrants arrived in Dover on Tuesday via 12 small boats—the highest single-day number so far in 2025. This brings the year’s total to 8,888 arrivals, marking a 42% increase over the same period last year.

A Home Office spokesperson stated: “The prime minister and home secretary are committed to close cooperation with France to prevent dangerous Channel crossings. We’ve already agreed on increased deployment of elite French border officers, a new intelligence unit, and enhanced legal authority for operations in shallow waters. We are ramping up efforts with France and other European partners to dismantle the smuggling gangs' operations through innovative and coordinated actions.”