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UK insists migration deal with France will move forward
The British government reaffirmed on Wednesday that its migration agreement with France will “move forward,” despite a recent court ruling that temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean migrant.
The bilateral accord, which came into effect in early August, allows the United Kingdom to return migrants who crossed the Channel in small boats, while France would in turn relocate to Britain certain applicants who submitted their asylum requests online. However, no transfers have yet taken place.
On Tuesday, the High Court in London halted the removal of a 25-year-old Eritrean man, who according to his lawyer was a victim of human trafficking. He became the first person to legally challenge deportation under the new agreement. The government has announced plans to appeal the decision.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood denounced what she called “last-minute attempts to block removals,” insisting that such actions were “intolerable.” Technology Minister Liz Kendall added that while the ruling was “disappointing,” it would not undermine the foundation of the Franco-British deal.
British media reported that two planes scheduled to transport migrants to France on Tuesday departed without passengers. Meanwhile, NGOs and migrant rights advocates warned that legal challenges could multiply, testing the durability of the agreement.
According to official figures, more than 31,000 people have crossed the Channel into the UK since January, a record number at this stage of the year. Since August, authorities have detained dozens of migrants in preparation for deportations. reported that 92 people are currently in custody awaiting transfer to France.