The UK government has announced the termination of the 'one in, one out' agreement with France, which allowed for the return of some migrants who crossed the Channel. The pilot scheme, initiated just over a year ago, permitted the UK to return a number of small boat arrivals while agreeing to accept an equal number of individuals from France with legitimate claims to enter the UK. Since the scheme's inception, approximately 1,500 individuals have been returned to France.
A spokesperson for the Home Office indicated that the government had hoped to continue the scheme but determined it did not achieve the desired scale. The spokesperson stated, "lessons learned" from the pilot would be utilized to enhance efforts to return small boat migrants without the right to remain in the UK. The spokesperson also confirmed that while the scheme is no longer processing new cases, flights to remove small boat migrants from the UK would continue in the coming weeks.
The spokesperson noted that the government would maintain collaboration with France to address small boat crossings, highlighting that there has been "real progress" with significantly reduced numbers compared to the previous year. The French Interior Ministry confirmed discussions with the UK regarding the exit terms from the agreement.
From January 1 to September 27, 2026, a total of 19,135 individuals crossed the English Channel via small boats from France, representing a 42% decrease from the same period the previous year. These crossings have become the predominant method for individuals detected entering the UK illegally since 2020. Nearly all arrivals by small boat claim asylum, which allows them to remain in the country while their applications are processed.
Small boat arrivals accounted for 40% of asylum applications from July 2025 to June 2026. Boats arriving in the UK during the period from September 28, 2025, to September 27, 2026, carried an average of 67 individuals, more than double the average from 2021. Experts have noted that overcrowding on boats increases the risks associated with these crossings, with at least 84 fatalities reported in 2024, according to the United Nations.
In terms of the overall immigration context, small boat arrivals represent about 5% of total immigration into the UK from January to December 2025. The government has committed to dismantling the networks facilitating these crossings. Individuals from Eritrea constituted 18% of all arrivals between July 2025 and June 2026.
According to the Home Office, at least 2,335 individuals arriving by small boat were identified as potential victims of human trafficking or modern slavery from January to December 2025. Additionally, 4,712 individuals were detected entering the UK through other means, such as hiding in vehicles or traveling on ferries, marking a 17% decrease from the previous year.
The total number of individuals living in the UK illegally after arriving legally remains unknown. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged that the scheme faced challenges, stating, "The numbers are still relatively small," and noted the operational difficulties in scaling up removals within the French system. She also mentioned that some migrants may have refrained from attempting the crossing due to the potential for acceptance under the 'one in, one out' scheme. So far this year, 19,135 individuals have made the Channel crossing, a 42% reduction compared to the same period in 2025, when 32,188 crossed in small boats. The cost of the 'one in, one out' scheme was reported to be £56,000 per person returned to France.