Hundreds of asylum seekers removed from UK to France have disappeared, say NGOs
Summary
Hundreds of asylum seekers sent from the UK to France under the “one in, one out” agreement have disappeared, according to human rights groups. The deal, which exchanges one asylum seeker returned to France for one brought legally to the UK, may end soon, and concerns exist about children being wrongly returned or detained.Key Facts
- The “one in, one out” deal started in July 2025, allowing the UK to send back one asylum seeker to France for each one it legally receives from France.
- About 1,400 asylum seekers have been returned to France since September 2025, only 4% of the 32,000 who crossed the Channel.
- At least 41 children or young people with disputed ages are reported by NGOs to have been unlawfully returned to France, though the UK Home Office denies this.
- Unlawful detention of minors in adult immigration centers has been reported by independent monitoring boards.
- Some asylum seekers returned to France have come back secretly to the UK.
- The current deal expires on 1 October 2026, and it is unclear if it will be renewed or replaced.
- The UK Home Office says it ensures legal support for detainees and age assessments to protect children.
- France prefers that the scheme be extended to more European countries rather than France alone handling returns.
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