Home Office still flies asylum seekers to France weeks after scheme ended

The Guardian reported that the Home Office continues to detain dozens of asylum seekers and has forced a group onto a plane to France this week, even though the "one in, one out" scheme has officially ended. The scheme, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and former UK prime minister Keir Starmer in July 2025, was designed to discourage small boats crossing the Channel by pairing the removal of arrivals in the UK with the legal transfer of a similar number of people from northern France to Britain. Despite the programme’s conclusion, officials are still using the same mechanism to return asylum seekers to France. The Guardian’s investigation suggests the policy persists beyond its intended timeframe, raising questions about the Home Office’s handling of the arrangement.

Why it matters

The continued use of the scheme highlights ongoing challenges in managing asylum flows and the enforcement of bilateral agreements after a policy is formally ended.

Key details

Location

France · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

1 Nov 2026, 14:30 IST

Key names

Home Office, Guardian, French, Emmanuel Macron

Section

World

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianAsylum seekers still being sent to France under ‘one in one out’ weeks after scheme ended 1 Nov, 14:30

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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