# UK and France end “one in, one out” migrant exchange deal > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-france-migrant-exchange-agreement-dispute > Updated: 2026-09-30T18:48:49.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 3. The bilateral “one in, one out” migrant exchange pilot agreement between the United Kingdom and France has officially ended. The scheme, designed to curb small-boat crossings in the English Channel, was no longer processing new cases as of late September 2026. Under the arrangement, the UK returned undocumented migrants arriving by boat to France in exchange for accepting an equal number of asylum seekers through safe and legal routes. While the program aimed to deter smugglers, it fell short of its target of 2,600 exchanges. Final figures indicate approximately 1,500 individuals were returned to France, while a similar number were admitted to the UK. France has maintained its position of moving away from bilateral arrangements, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez advocating for a broader EU-wide agreement. The UK Home Office confirmed that while the exchange of undocumented arrivals for legitimate asylum seekers with family ties has ended, deportation flights for those already detained will continue through the end of October. The UK government noted that small-boat arrivals have decreased by approximately 40% compared to the previous year and stated it remains committed to working with France to tackle illegal crossings, specifically regarding the interception of small boats. Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, have continued to criticize the scheme, citing psychological distress and poor detention conditions for those involved. ## Claims - Approximately 1,400 people have been deported to France under the scheme so far. (disputed by 17 sources) - As of the end of June, 1,117 people were brought to the UK under the deal. (disputed by 6 sources) - Flights for the removal of migrants will continue until the end of October. (corroborated by 14 sources) - France wants to replace the bilateral deal with an EU-wide agreement. (corroborated by 10 sources) - France and the UK are discussing the terms for exiting the migration agreement. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The original target for the exchange was approximately 2,600 people. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The cost of the scheme has averaged £56,000 per person. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The agreement was originally set to expire in July but was extended to October 1. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Migration policy shifts in the EU and UK The EU has adopted stricter migration return rules, while the UK has ended its migrant exchange agreement with France, though cooperation on Channel crossings continues. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/migration-policy-shifts-in-the-eu-and-uk ### 2026-09-29: UK and France discuss ending bilateral migration pilot scheme The UK and France are discussing the end of their “one in, one out” migration pilot scheme, which exchanged undocumented arrivals for legal asylum seekers to manage English Channel crossings. 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-france-migrant-exchange-deal-set-to-expire-in-october ### 2026-09-11: France proposes replacing UK migrant deal with EU-wide agreement France aims to replace its bilateral migrant exchange deal with the UK with an EU-wide agreement, seeking to distribute asylum responsibilities across all 27 member states. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-proposes-replacing-uk-migrant-deal-with-eu-wide-agreement --- Cite as: UK and France end “one in, one out” migrant exchange deal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-france-migrant-exchange-agreement-dispute