A migrant deported from Britain under Labour’s “one-in, one-out” agreement with France has re-entered the UK via another small boat, raising significant concerns about border control effectiveness, reports BritPanorama.
The individual, who was removed from the UK and sent to France under the initiative, has been apprehended and is currently detained in a UK immigration facility. This incident marks a considerable embarrassment for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has consistently asserted that the bilateral agreement would restore UK border management.
The Home Office confirmed its intention for expedited removal of the migrant, emphasizing its commitment to combating illegal border crossings. A spokesperson reiterated the government’s stance: “We will not accept any abuse of our borders, and we will do everything in our power to remove those without the legal right to be here. Individuals who are returned under the pilot and subsequently attempt to re-enter the UK illegally will be removed.”
This development raises further questions regarding the “one-in, one-out” policy, designed to facilitate illegal Channel arrivals’ return to France while allowing the legal intake of the same number of asylum seekers. However, with only 42 individuals returned under the scheme and over 36,700 migrants crossing the Channel this year alone, the initiative has been deemed largely ineffective.
The migrant, speaking to The Guardian, expressed fear for his life in France, recounting experiences of abuse and exploitation by smugglers when attempting to cross the Channel previously. “If I had felt that France was safe for me, I would never have returned to the UK,” he stated.
He described his time in France as filled with fear, detailing how he fell victim to a human trafficking network and was subjected to threats and violence. “They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, abused me, and threatened me with a gun,” he recalled, highlighting the dire circumstances that led to his return to the UK.
This incident further complicates the Prime Minister’s position as he prepares to host Balkan leaders for discussions on people smuggling, amid ongoing criticism of the government’s handling of migration issues.
