Overview

• On August 7 the first migrants arriving by small boats were detained and held in immigration removal centres under the newly activated one-in, one-out pilot.
• Under treaty rules, transfer requests must be made within 14 days of arrival and returns completed within three months, with the UK covering all costs.
• Exempting unaccompanied minors, the scheme routes any human rights appeals to French courts, ministers say, rejecting claims of delays.
• France-based asylum seekers with UK connections can now apply through an online platform to fill quotas matching returned arrivals.
• Approved until June 2026, the time-limited pilot can be cancelled by either government on one month’s notice as crossings surge past 25,000 this year.