[REVISION HISTORY]

UK and France end “one in, one out” migrant exchange deal

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 20:36 UTC → 2026-10-01 23:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~Despite the conclusion of the deal, the~~ 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.~~ 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.

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