First migrants detained under returns deal with France

Migrants who crossed the English Channel have been detained for deportation to France under the new "one in one out" deal.

The Home Office said detentions began at Wednesday lunchtime, and those people will be held in immigration removal centres pending their return in the coming weeks. It comes after pictures showed people on small boats headed for the UK yesterday, the day the pilot scheme came into force.

Politics live: Tories call for asylum seekers caught working illegally to be immediately deported It isn't known how many of these were detained. The government said that is operational information which could be exploited by criminal gangs, but numbers would be disclosed retrospectively "to ensure transparency around the results of the scheme".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on the X social media platform: "We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France. "No gimmicks, just results.

If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. "When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it." Under the scheme, which will run as a pilot until June 2026, the UK can send adults and accompanied minors who arrive by small boat back to France.

In exchange, the UK will allow an approved asylum seeker in France to be brought here via a safe and legal route - as long as they have not previously tried to enter illegally. Home Office officials aim to make referrals for returns to France within three days of a migrant's arrival by small boat while French authorities will respond within 14 days.

Ministers have rejected criticism that the deal contains a human rights "loophole" that could allow migrants to avoid deportation. The treaty contains a clause that says in order for people to be returned, the UK must confirm they do not have an "outstanding human rights claim".

Legal challenges will be 'robustly defended' Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed this "creates a field day for human rights lawyers.