Overview

• An Indian national who arrived by small boat in August was flown from Heathrow to Paris on Thursday, marking the first removal under the UK‑France exchange scheme, officials confirmed.
• A second removal followed at 6:15 a.m. Friday when an Eritrean man was deported after Mr Justice Sheldon refused his request for an interim injunction.
• A separate Eritrean case remains paused for at least 14 days after a High Court order, with the Home Office appealing and commencing a rapid review of modern slavery legislation.
• The government has updated guidance to limit repeat challenges to rejected trafficking claims, while the first legal admissions from France are expected within days during a pilot running to June 2026.
• More than 31,000 people have crossed the Channel this year, charities and the anti‑slavery commissioner have criticized the policy’s impact on vulnerable people, and ministers argue the returns send a deterrent message.