Overview

• Home Office figures show 1,072 people crossed in 13 boats on Friday, taking the 2025 total to a record 32,103 to date.
• An Iranian man was returned to France on Friday, following an Eritrean man who lost a High Court bid and an Indian national on Thursday, bringing total enforced returns to three.
• Reciprocal flights bringing approved asylum seekers from France to the UK are expected next week, with officials indicating numbers will be at or near parity under the pilot.
• Ministers say the scheme will act as a deterrent and plan to scale up returns, while critics argue the tiny number of removals shows no deterrent effect.
• Migrants in Calais say they will keep trying to reach the UK and are using charity legal advice to resist removal, with media reports indicating about 92 people are currently detained for potential return.