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Migrant returned to France after government wins court challenge | |
(32 minutes later) | |
An Eritrean man has been flown out of the UK under the government's "one in, one out" deal with France, after a last-minute court bid to delay the departure failed. | An Eritrean man has been flown out of the UK under the government's "one in, one out" deal with France, after a last-minute court bid to delay the departure failed. |
The second cross-Channel migrant to be removed from the UK under the policy - whose lawyers had argued may have been the victim of human trafficking - was accompanied by Home Office officials on the flight from Heathrow Airport to Paris. | |
The judgement came just hours after the Home Office changed its policy on handling modern day slavery claims from English Channel migrants, to make it harder for them to resist being sent to France. | |
It comes a little over a month since the UK and France agreed the year-long pilot scheme of exchanges of migrants in the hope of deterring small boat crossings. | It comes a little over a month since the UK and France agreed the year-long pilot scheme of exchanges of migrants in the hope of deterring small boat crossings. |
First migrant deported to France under 'one in one out' deal | First migrant deported to France under 'one in one out' deal |
Why do Channel migrants want to come to the UK? | Why do Channel migrants want to come to the UK? |
How many people cross the Channel in small boats? | How many people cross the Channel in small boats? |
The man who was removed on Friday wore a white hoodie as he sat with three officials wearing Home Office passes at the back of the plane. | The man who was removed on Friday wore a white hoodie as he sat with three officials wearing Home Office passes at the back of the plane. |
The Home Office confirmed he was on board the Air France flight, which arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport at about 7:30 BST. | |
He was handed over to three French police officers by UK officials immediately after leaving the aircraft. | |
He told the BBC he felt "very bad" to be back in France, and when asked what he intended to do now, said "I don't know" before being led away to a separate part of the airport. | |
It comes after a mixed week for the government as it tries to show voters it has a grip on immigration. | It comes after a mixed week for the government as it tries to show voters it has a grip on immigration. |
Another Eritrean man was granted a last-minute legal claim to temporarily block his removal by the same judge who rejected the appeal in Friday's case. However, an Indian national was sent to France on Thursday without a legal challenge. | |
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: "These are the first steps and we will be ramping up from here." | |
The man who was removed on Friday arrived in England on a small boat in August. | The man who was removed on Friday arrived in England on a small boat in August. |
In a ruling after a three-hour emergency hearing on Thursday, the presiding judge said there was no legal justification to delay the transport of the unnamed man. | In a ruling after a three-hour emergency hearing on Thursday, the presiding judge said there was no legal justification to delay the transport of the unnamed man. |
Mr Justice Sheldon said there was "significant public interest" in removing him, noting that the home secretary was pursuing a policy to combat dangerous people smuggling. | Mr Justice Sheldon said there was "significant public interest" in removing him, noting that the home secretary was pursuing a policy to combat dangerous people smuggling. |
He would instead have an opportunity to make his case in France. | He would instead have an opportunity to make his case in France. |
"There is no serious issue to be tried in this case that the claimant has been denied procedural fairness," said the judge. | "There is no serious issue to be tried in this case that the claimant has been denied procedural fairness," said the judge. |
The "one in, one out" deal is intended to deter people from turning to smugglers to cross the Channel because of the risk they could be sent back. | The "one in, one out" deal is intended to deter people from turning to smugglers to cross the Channel because of the risk they could be sent back. |
It proposes that, for each migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong case for asylum in the UK will be allowed to come in return. | It proposes that, for each migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong case for asylum in the UK will be allowed to come in return. |
Neither government has suggested that the plan will smash the crossings on its own. | Neither government has suggested that the plan will smash the crossings on its own. |
At least three boats carrying migrants left beaches in France on Friday morning following an improvement in the weather after a week of windy conditions. | At least three boats carrying migrants left beaches in France on Friday morning following an improvement in the weather after a week of windy conditions. |
The Eritrean man said he had slept rough in France before making his way to Dunkirk to try to cross to England. | The Eritrean man said he had slept rough in France before making his way to Dunkirk to try to cross to England. |
The Eritrean man sent back on Friday said he fled his home country in 2019 because of forced conscription - and he spent time in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Libya before coming to Europe. | The Eritrean man sent back on Friday said he fled his home country in 2019 because of forced conscription - and he spent time in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Libya before coming to Europe. |
He said he had lived in France, sleeping rough, and eventually made his way to Dunkirk to try to cross to England. | He said he had lived in France, sleeping rough, and eventually made his way to Dunkirk to try to cross to England. |
But in his ruling, Mr Justice Sheldon noted the man had given differing accounts of his allegations of trafficking, and so it was open to the home office to conclude that "his account of trafficking could not reasonably be believed". | |
The Home Office's new policy on handling modern day slavery claims means that a migrant who is refused protection in the UK because they have suffered slavery or trafficking may only challenge that decision after they have been flown out of the country. | |
The rule change also came after a different Eritrean man facing a return to France won a temporary delay on modern slavery grounds. The government said it would appeal against that decision. | The rule change also came after a different Eritrean man facing a return to France won a temporary delay on modern slavery grounds. The government said it would appeal against that decision. |
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump weighed in on illegal immigration to the UK at the end of his state visit. | On Thursday, US President Donald Trump weighed in on illegal immigration to the UK at the end of his state visit. |
During a press conference with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he suggested using the military to combat small boat crossings. | During a press conference with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he suggested using the military to combat small boat crossings. |
Sir Keir countered by affirming that the UK had "a number of cooperation deals with other countries" in place and that the government is taking the issue "incredibly seriously". | Sir Keir countered by affirming that the UK had "a number of cooperation deals with other countries" in place and that the government is taking the issue "incredibly seriously". |
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the first return under the UK-France scheme demonstrated to people attempting small boat crossings "if you enter the UK illegally, we will seek to remove you". | Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the first return under the UK-France scheme demonstrated to people attempting small boat crossings "if you enter the UK illegally, we will seek to remove you". |
The Home Office says that more flights are planned in the coming days, but it is not clear how many passengers will be booked on to each one because of ongoing legal challenges - or threats of them. | The Home Office says that more flights are planned in the coming days, but it is not clear how many passengers will be booked on to each one because of ongoing legal challenges - or threats of them. |
Around 100 men are currently in immigration removal centres near Heathrow under the scheme. Each one was detained after arriving in the UK on a small boat and told they were potentially eligible to be returned to France. | Around 100 men are currently in immigration removal centres near Heathrow under the scheme. Each one was detained after arriving in the UK on a small boat and told they were potentially eligible to be returned to France. |
Around 5,590 migrants have reached the UK since the scheme came into effect at the start of August. | Around 5,590 migrants have reached the UK since the scheme came into effect at the start of August. |