London: The first Indian national has been deported from Britain to France under the new UK-France migration agreement, aimed at reducing illegal crossings of the English Channel.
The man, who reportedly arrived in the UK on a small boat in early August, was flown from Heathrow Airport to Paris as part of the ‘one-in, one-out’ pilot scheme, which came into effect last Thursday. Under the agreement, the UK and France can deport illegal immigrants while accepting an equal number of refugees through legal channels.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the deportation as a “significant first step” in strengthening border controls and curbing dangerous Channel crossings. She said: “It sends a clear message. If you enter the UK illegally, we will try to send you back. We will continue to support genuine refugees, but in safe and legal ways—not through human traffickers and risky journeys.”
According to the UK Home Office, the deported Indian national will be offered voluntary return to India from France. If he refuses, he may be forcibly removed and barred from seeking asylum.
The deportation comes amid a sharp rise in illegal immigration involving Indian nationals. Official figures show that in August, 2,715 Indians were detained in the UK for immigration violations, a 108% increase year-on-year.
The pilot scheme, running from August until June 2026, is expected to see more deportations. The ‘one-in, one-out’ system aims to prevent illegal entrants from applying for asylum, reducing pressure on the UK asylum system and minimizing the need for temporary accommodations. In return, the UK and France will accept migrants processed through legal channels.
The Home Office said it will continue to challenge legal attempts to delay deportations and confirmed that over 35,000 individuals without legal status were deported last year, with foreign offender and asylum-related repatriations rising by 14% and 28%, respectively.
