LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The United Kingdom government on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, confirmed the removal of an Iranian man to France for the second time, enforcing a bilateral returns agreement aimed at curbing small boat crossings over the English Channel. The case highlights the stringent measures being implemented under the UK's new immigration policies and has drawn scrutiny from human rights advocates.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the removal, stating it demonstrated the government's resolve to make the returns scheme effective. "Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money," Mahmood said in a statement issued on Wednesday. She added, "This individual was detected by biometrics and detained instantly. His case was expedited, and now he has been removed again... I will do whatever it takes to scale up removals of illegal migrants and secure our borders."

The man first arrived in the UK on August 6, 2025, and was returned to France on September 19. He subsequently made another crossing to the UK on a small boat on October 18 and lodged an asylum claim. Despite raising indicators of being a victim of modern slavery, his claim was referred to the UK's National Referral Mechanism (NRM) but was rejected on October 27. The Home Office had already made a readmission request to France on October 21, which was accepted three days later.

The "One In, One Out" Agreement

This removal operates under a pilot agreement signed by the UK and France, which came into force on August 5, 2025. Dubbed the "one in, one out" scheme, the treaty allows the UK to return some migrants who arrive on small boats to France. In exchange, the UK agrees to accept a vetted asylum seeker from France for each person returned, provided they have not previously attempted to enter the UK irregularly. The pilot is set to run until June 2026 and is subject to monthly reviews.

According to a Home Office announcement on October 9, 2025, the first group removals under the treaty had already taken place, with 26 individuals returned in the preceding weeks. By the end of October, the total number of migrants returned to France under the scheme had risen to 75, while the UK had accepted 51 vetted migrants in return.

The policy is a key component of the UK government's strategy to deter dangerous Channel crossings, which have seen a significant increase in recent years. According to Home Office figures, the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats passed 25,000 by the end of July 2025, a record pace for the calendar year.

Human Rights and Legal Challenges

The policy and the specific case of the Iranian man have raised concerns among human rights organisations. The man's lawyers maintain that he is a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smugglers in France and returned to the UK fearing for his life. The rejection of his trafficking claim by the NRM, a framework designed to identify and support victims of modern slavery, is a central point of contention.

Critics argue that the accelerated removal process may not allow for adequate assessment of asylum and human trafficking claims. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has previously expressed "profound concern" over the UK's Illegal Migration Act 2023, which underpins such policies, stating it could breach the UK's obligations under the Refugee Convention by extinguishing access to asylum for those arriving irregularly.

Global Context and Relevance for East Africa

While this policy is specific to the UK and France, its development is watched closely on the international stage. European nations continue to grapple with managing migration flows, and bilateral agreements are increasingly seen as a tool. For countries in East Africa, which host large refugee populations and are also origin and transit points for migrants, the precedent of such returns agreements is significant.

The UK's tougher stance on immigration could have broader implications. Home Secretary Mahmood has previously warned that countries refusing to accept the return of their nationals could face visa suspensions. Although this policy is not directly aimed at East African nations, it signals a more transactional approach to international migration cooperation. This could influence future discussions on migration partnerships and development aid between the UK and African countries, including Kenya. Historically, migration flows from East Africa to the UK have been significant, and changes in UK immigration policy are often felt within the region's diaspora communities.

The UK government maintains that its approach is necessary to control its borders and dismantle the business model of criminal smuggling gangs. However, the repeated crossing by the Iranian man, despite a prior removal, underscores the complex motivations and severe pressures driving asylum seekers, raising questions about whether such policies will serve as an effective long-term deterrent.