UK Still Sending Asylum Seekers to France Weeks After 'One In, One Out' Scheme Ended

The Home Office is continuing to put asylum seekers on planes to France, despite the controversial 'one in, one out' scheme having officially ended, the Guardian has learned. The scheme, announced in July 2025 by French President Emmanuel Macron and former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was designed to deter small boat crossings in the Channel by forcibly returning some asylum seekers from the UK to France while bringing a similar number from northern France legally to the UK. However, weeks after the scheme was discontinued, the Home Office is still detaining dozens of people, with one group forcibly removed this week. This ongoing practice raises questions about the UK's compliance with the agreed end date and the treatment of asylum seekers. It also highlights the broader challenges of managing irregular migration and the political sensitivity surrounding the issue, especially as both countries navigate post-Brexit relations. The continued removals may undermine trust and complicate future cooperation on migration. For asylum seekers, the uncertainty and fear of detention and removal persist, despite the policy shift. The Home Office has not commented on why the removals are ongoing, but the situation underscores the gap between policy announcements and on-the-ground enforcement.