A family of three have become the first asylum seekers to arrive in the UK as part of the government’s high-stakes new “one in, one out” deal with France.
It comes after four migrants were deported to Paris under Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship agreement, which ministers claim will dissuade migrants from making the deadly Channel crossings by showing they could be immediately sent back.
In return, a family – which includes a small child – have become the first to arrive in the UK through the new legal route.
But the prime minister is under pressure to demonstrate the scheme is working after more than 1,000 migrants arrived by small boat last Friday, after returns to France began.
A Home Office spokesperson said the move was a “clear message to people-smuggling gangs that illegal entry into the UK will not be tolerated.
“We will continue to detain and remove those who arrive by small boat. And we will work with France to operate a legal route for an equal number of eligible migrants to come to the UK, subject to security checks.”
The move comes just days after Donald Trump told the prime minister to “call out the military” to stop small boats, as the number of crossings hit a record high, and warned that illegal migration can “destroy” countries.
Labour minister Peter Kyle later said that the Royal Navy could be called upon to tackle the crossings “if needed”.
But former first sea lord Admiral Lord West said that Mr Trump’s suggestion would make “no difference at all” because the UK cannot easily return boats to France.
A pilot scheme, the one in, one out deal will see a small number of migrants – initially it is understood planned to be 50 per week – who have crossed the Channel in small boats sent immediately back to France.
The Home Office has refused to confirm numbers but said it expects the number to grow as the scheme progresses.
In return, Britain will take in the same number of migrants from France, selecting those with family in the UK or strong ties to the country.
Initially, the scheme will only apply to adults because children who come to the UK illegally are not detained.
The images of migrants arriving by their thousands via small boats have proved politically toxic, and the PM has said he is determined to succeed where his predecessors failed in getting the issue under control.
Many of those who arrive are then housed in hotels while their asylum claims are processed, which costs the taxpayer billions.
Ministers hope that by demonstrating to those considering the dangerous crossing that they may be immediately sent back to France, fewer will be willing to risk making the perilous journey.
However, critics have attacked the agreement, saying it will deal with only a small number of migrants, meaning only around one in 20 who arrive in the UK will be sent back to France.
More than 32,000 people have arrived in Britain by small boat so far in 2025.
The pilot agreement runs initially until June next year.
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