An asylum seeker who was sent to France under Sir Keir Starmer's 'one in, one out' scheme has returned to Britain, warning that he may be forced into crime to survive. The man, currently in hiding, claims to be among at least 18 asylum seekers who have made their way back to the UK since the policy was introduced last year.
Desperate Journey Back to Britain
After being removed to France by the Home Office, the man said he was left in a 'desperate' situation and returned to the UK hidden in a lorry. He recounted that people-smugglers 'caught' him and tried to 'force' him to work with them, but he 'refused'. As a result, he claims he was beaten 'so badly that my face is still full of bruises and injuries'. Feeling he had no other choice, he described Britain as a 'safer' place to live.
The 'Jungle' and Lorry Crossings
Speaking to the Guardian, the man explained that while staying in the 'Jungle'—a refugee camp in northern France—people were offered journeys back to Britain in lorries rather than small boats, due to the one-in-one-out policy. 'The price for a small boat Channel crossing is €1,000-2,000, while the price for a lorry to the UK is €4,000 to 5,000,' he said. Although he does not know exactly how many have returned, he is aware of 18 individuals 'now living underground'.
Living in Fear
Despite successfully re-entering Britain, the man lives in constant fear. 'I'm running from the smugglers, the police and the Home Office. I don't have a life any more and I don't have a plan,' he said. 'I keep thinking about handing myself into the police, but if I do that and the Home Office sends me back to France again I am sure the smugglers will kill me if they find me, because I ran away from them.' He wishes to 'live in peace' in the UK, to 'work legally and be safe', but warned that refugees like him can be 'forced' into crime to survive.
The One-In, One-Out Scheme
The 'one in, one out' deal, signed last July, allows Britain to send a small boat migrant back to France in exchange for accepting one who has not previously attempted to enter illegally. The aim is to deter Channel crossings and disrupt people-smuggling operations. However, since the deal was enacted, thousands of asylum seekers have crossed the Channel, and smugglers have adapted by launching boats from Belgium and offering lorry crossings to avoid police on French beaches.
Recent Crossings and Government Response
On Friday, nearly 400 migrants reached Britain in six small boats, taking advantage of warmer weather. This marked the first successful crossings in nearly two weeks. The total number of arrivals is down 44% compared to the same time last year and 23% compared to 2024. As of April 28, 605 people were returned to France under the scheme, while 581 arrived in Britain.
In April, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a three-year agreement to pay France £662 million for beach patrols to reduce arrivals. The Home Office stated the deal would involve 'targeting and detaining' migrants on French beaches, with the aim of removing hundreds each year. Labour will spend £501 million on five police units and enforcement, with an additional £160 million contingent on successful new tactics. If efforts fail, the extra funding will cease after a year.
France's new initiative to stop boats at sea will only apply to dinghies with fewer than 20 people aboard. Britain will fund a specialist vessel, 20 extra maritime officers, two helicopters for surveillance, and a 50-strong police riot squad trained in dispersing large groups.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money. They will be removed again. Under this government, enforcement is up, asylum decision-making is up, removals are up and the backlogs and hotel use are coming down. 2025 was a record year for tackling organised immigration crime, with disruptions up by more than a third on 2024. Under our returns agreement with France, we have deported more than 600 illegal migrants from British soil.'
