Others deported last week were from Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea and India. The deal with France means people who arrive in the UK by small boat can be detained and returned across the Channel, in exchange for an equivalent number of people who applied and were approved through a safe and legal route. Ministers agreed the pilot scheme with the French government in July as part of efforts to deter the record number of arrivals by small boat crossings. Last week, a judge granted the man 14 days to make representations to support his claim that he was a victim of modern slavery. The newspaper reported that the refugee arrived in the country on a small boat in 2022.

Source: The Times September 25, 2025 13:46 UTC