A second migrant has been repatriated to France as part of the “one in, one out” agreement after an unsuccessful High Court challenge. The Eritrean individual was flown from Heathrow to Paris on Friday morning, according to the Home Office. This action follows the deportation of an Indian citizen on Thursday, which was praised as a significant development by Keir Starmer.
The government’s objective is to dissuade individuals from resorting to smugglers for passage to the UK. Despite this, distressing images emerged on Friday displaying children being embarked onto a small vessel off the French shoreline. One man was observed carrying a young child on his shoulders as they entered the Channel, with the boat departing from Gravelines beach in Calais at dawn.
Efforts are being made by the authorities to dismantle the criminal networks facilitating these perilous crossings, which resulted in at least 78 fatalities in 2024. During a prior visit to the UK, Donald Trump proposed employing the military to combat human trafficking.
Responding to inquiries about the President’s suggestion, Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated that the UK Border Force is now better equipped to handle such situations. He mentioned that the Navy collaborates with the Border Force and could be called upon if necessary. However, Kyle emphasized the importance of the military focusing on broader national defense issues.
The government is open to amending legislation to halt the influx of small boats crossing the Channel. Peter Kyle affirmed the government’s readiness to revise laws where needed to address the situation effectively.
Keir Starmer expressed satisfaction with the initial repatriation under the France agreement, which stipulates detaining and removing small boat arrivals. In return, the UK will accept an equivalent number of individuals with valid claims who have not attempted the perilous Channel crossing.
Starmer described the first repatriation as a significant advancement and stressed the importance of scaling up such operations swiftly.