UK Government Vows to Push Ahead With UK-France Migrant Deal Despite Court Setback

TDT | LONDON

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The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to its new one-for-one migrant agreement with France, despite a London High Court ruling that blocked the deportation of an Eritrean migrant on Wednesday.

The court’s intervention, which granted the man a 14-day reprieve, marks another obstacle to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plans to reduce irregular Channel crossings. The Eritrean migrant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to be flown to France on Wednesday morning before his lawyers successfully argued that deportation would expose him to a “real risk of destitution.” The challenge was brought under provisions relating to victims of slavery and human trafficking.

“This is one person, it is not going to undermine the fundamental basis of this deal,” said government minister Liz Kendall in an interview with Times Radio. She described the ruling as “disappointing” but stressed that “it won’t prevent the rest of that deal going ahead.”

Under the “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme, the UK can return small-boat arrivals deemed ineligible for asylum — including those who have passed through a safe third country. In exchange, London will accept the same number of migrants directly from France, who will apply via an online visa system. The agreement, which began in August, will run until June 2026.

Charities have warned that the policy is likely to face a wave of further legal challenges. More than 90 migrants who recently crossed the Channel have already been detained for deportation to France, according to advocacy groups.

France’s Interior Ministry confirmed that its first repatriations under the deal will begin on Saturday.