Overview

• Starting in late July, roughly 50 migrants who cross the Channel irregularly each week will be returned to France under a bilateral pilot.
• For every person sent back, the UK will admit one refugee who has never tried to enter illegally, prioritizing applicants with family in Britain.
• The pact fills a post-Brexit void by reviving return rights lost after EU exit, intending to disrupt smuggling networks.
• Authorities will record biometric data to block repeat attempts, streamlining automatic deportation for returnees who try again.
• Critics warn the limited swap may fall short of deterring crossings, risking more migrants taking even more perilous routes.