First migrant deported from UK under ‘one in, one out’ deal
Government sources in the UK have said that the first migrant has been deported from the UK to France under the British Government’s ‘one in, one out’ deal.
According to The Scotsman, a man originally from India was sent to Paris on board an Air France plane on September 18th. This marks the first deportation of a migrant who has crossed the English Channel since the deal between the two countries came into effect last month.
British ministers agreed the scheme with the French Government in July as part of efforts to deter the number of arrivals by small boat crossings. Under the deal, the UK will send back to France asylum seekers who have crossed the channel in exchange for those who apply and are approved to come to Britain.
The deal is one of many steps taken by the British Government to control migration in the UK. Last month a deal was struck with Iraq to return Iraqi migrants who enter the UK without a right to stay.
On February 3rd the UK also pledged £5 million in a deal with Tunisia to support initiatives aimed at “upskilling potential migrants”, encouraging them to remain in Tunisia. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the deal as an effort to address the “root causes of irregular migration.” This deal has, however, been condemned by several human rights groups who maintain Tunisia should not be considered a “place of safety” for vulnerable migrants.
The first deportation comes as the British government faces pressure over the migrant returns agreement with France after reports of planned flights or removals being cancelled earlier this week.
The UK Home Office also launched an appeal on September 18th against the first legal challenge brought to the High Court against one migrant’s deportation under the scheme.
On September 16th a court granted an Eritrean man a “short period of interim relief” ahead of a flight to France scheduled for 9am on September 17th. He was given 14 days to make representations to support the claim he was a victim of modern slavery.
UK Homes Secretary Shabana Mahmood has outlined her commitment to fighting last minute claims against removals, stating the use of modern slavery legislation to block deportations made a “mockery of our laws.”
These comments have been criticised by the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons who said the claims put vulnerable lives at risk.
The Scotsman, Maghrebi
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