London: The UK and France have rolled out a new migration policy called ‘one-in, one-out’ to tackle illegal crossings of the English Channel. Under this system, each person deported from the UK for entering illegally will be matched by the admission of a refugee through legal channels in France.
The first deportation under this scheme involved an Indian national who arrived in the UK on a small boat in early August. He was flown from Heathrow Airport to France last week as part of the pilot initiative.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the policy sends a clear message that illegal entry will not be tolerated, while still providing safe and legal routes for genuine refugees.
The policy is designed to reduce strain on the UK’s asylum system and limit the use of temporary accommodations such as hotels. Only migrants who are screened and approved through legal procedures will be allowed entry under the scheme.
The pilot program, which started in August and is scheduled to run until June 2026, is expected to see further deportations in the coming months. The Home Office emphasized its commitment to ensuring deportations are carried out efficiently, noting that tens of thousands of people without legal status were removed last year, including both foreign offenders and asylum-related cases.
The ‘one-in, one-out’ approach represents a coordinated effort between the UK and France to manage migration while balancing enforcement with legal avenues for refugees.
