First migrants detained under returns deal with France

Migrants who crossed the English Channel have been detained for deportation to France under the new “one in one out” returns deal.

The first detentions came after pictures showed people on small boats headed for the UK on Wednesday, the day the pilot scheme came into force.

The government has not said how many people have been detained.

An announcement from the Home Office said the detentions began for those who arrived by small boat on Wednesday lunchtime, and those people will be held in immigration removal centres pending their return.

Sir Keir Starmer wrote on the X social media platform: “We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France.

“No gimmicks, just results. If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back.

“When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it.”

The scheme, which was agreed last month and came into force yesterday, allows adults arriving on a small boat to be sent back to France.

In exchange, the UK will allow an approved asylum seeker in France to be brought here via a safe route.

The application process for those in France hoping to apply to come to the UK has now also been launched by the Home Office this morning.

Neither side has put a figure on how many people they expect to be returned.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the public would be updated about the scheme “at every stage”, but that she won’t “provide operational details that criminal gangs can simply use and exploit”.

She added: “No one should be in any doubt. Anyone who arrives from now on is eligible for immediate detention and return, and this pilot will now build because we are determined that no one should be making this journey.”

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