Human rights groups are raising alarms over the fate of asylum seekers—including at least 41 individuals whose ages remain disputed—who were forcibly returned to France under the UK’s controversial "one in, one out" deportation scheme. The pilot program, initially praised as a landmark agreement between the UK and France, operates by exchanging asylum seekers arriving irregularly in Britain for those processed legally in France. Concerns now center on whether those removed have been accounted for, with organizations demanding transparency over their whereabouts and treatment. The treaty, announced last year, marks a shift in migration policy but has sparked ethical and legal questions about its implementation.
Human rights organisations concerned about people – including age-disputed children – returned under one in, out out deal Hundreds of asylum seekers – including at least 41 age-disputed children – removed to France under the “one in, one out” deal have disappeared, human rights organisations have said.The one in, one out pilot scheme was hailed as “groundbreaking” by the former prime minister Keir Starmer when he and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced it in July 2025. Under a treaty drawn up for this agreement, it forcibly returns one small-boat asylum seeker to France in exchange for another asylum seeker brought legally to the UK from France. Continue reading...
