UK and France End ‘One In, One Out’ Migrant Exchange Program

The United Kingdom and France have terminated a pilot agreement designed to reduce small boat crossings across the English Channel, British officials confirmed on Wednesday. The program, commonly referred to as the “one in, one out” deal, is no longer accepting new cases, according to a statement from the UK Home Office.

Under the arrangement, which was established in 2025, individuals who reached the UK after undertaking the hazardous Channel crossing could be detained and sent back to France. In return, an equivalent number of asylum seekers who had applied through official, legal pathways were permitted to enter Britain. The initiative was spearheaded by then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of efforts to repair post-Brexit relations with Paris by addressing a persistent diplomatic friction point.

According to reports from French newspaper Le Monde, Prime Minister Andy Burnham attempted to persuade President Emmanuel Macron to continue the cooperation during September discussions, but French authorities were eager to conclude the arrangement. This sentiment was echoed domestically by UK Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood, who acknowledged in parliament earlier this month that the scheme faced operational difficulties and that the volume of exchanges remained low.

“What has been more operationally difficult is to scale up very large numbers of removals every week into the French system,” Mahmood stated. Data from the Home Office indicates that between August 2025 and June 2026, 1,117 asylum seekers arrived in the UK from France via the program, while 1,087 were deported under its provisions. The deal had initially targeted 2,600 exchanges over a three-year period but included provisions for early termination by either party.

Despite the cancellation, the Home Office noted that deportation flights will proceed in the coming weeks for individuals already detained under the scheme. Officials emphasized that collaboration with France continues to tackle irregular crossings, citing significant progress. The number of people attempting the crossing has dropped sharply this year, with 19,135 arrivals recorded so far in 2026—a 42 percent decline compared to the previous year. This decrease is attributed to intensified police patrols and improved surveillance in northern France.

The risks associated with these journeys remain severe. On Monday, a 10-year-old boy and two women died after being trampled on an overcrowded vessel carrying more than 100 migrants. At least 22 people have perished while attempting the crossing this year. Additionally, a French court recently sentenced six men to prison terms ranging from six to 10 years for their roles in the November 2021 Channel disaster, which claimed at least 31 lives and was described by the court as a tragedy driven by greed and disregard for human life.