Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron’s migrant deal will come into force on Tuesday, with detentions set to begin by the end of the week.
The “one in, one out” pilot scheme – which will allow the UK to send some people who have crossed the Channel back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with ties to Britain – was signed last week, and has now been approved by the European Commission.
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It comes as 2025 is on course to be a record year for crossings.
Approximately 25,436 people have already made the journey this year, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures – 49% higher than at the same point in 2024.
The prime minister and the French president hailed the deal as a “good agreement” when it was first announced during the latter’s visit to the UK last month.
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The scheme also means that anyone arriving in a small boat can be detained immediately, with space set aside at immigration removal centres in anticipation of their arrival.
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Sir Keir said the ratification of the treaty will “send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France”.
“This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs’ business model,” he added.
“The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.”
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Ministers have so far declined to say how many people could be returned under the deal, however, there have been reports that under the scheme only 50 people a week will be returned to France.
The Conservatives have branded the agreement a “surrender deal” and said it will make “no difference whatsoever”.
Chris Philp MP, the shadow home secretary, said: “Returning just 50 illegal immigrants a week, and probably less, will make no difference whatsoever.
“This is a gimmick which won’t work.”
Under the terms of the agreement, adults arriving on small boats will face being returned to France if their asylum claim is inadmissible.
In exchange, the same number of people will be able to come to the UK on a new legal route, provided they have not attempted a crossing before and subject to stringent documentation and security checks.
The pilot scheme is set to run until June 2026, pending a longer-term agreement.
