Key Takeaways
- The UK‑France “one‑in‑one‑out” agreement, active since August 2023, allows Britain to return migrants who crossed the Channel illegally if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, while accepting an equal number of asylum‑seekers from France who did not use small‑boat routes.
- By June 2024 the UK had expelled 1,087 people to France and, in exchange, admitted 1,117 migrants who had originally sought protection in France.
- Charities and humanitarian groups condemn the deal, arguing it compounds trauma for people who have fled war, torture, trafficking, and perilous sea journeys.
- Individual stories—such as former Afghan soldier Haidary Hamedullah and Yemeni brothers Yunes and Yassin—illustrate the human cost: detention, prolonged uncertainty, forced returns, and a sense of being treated as “objects” rather than persons seeking safety.
- The policy reflects broader European trends of externalising asylum responsibilities, raising concerns about compliance with international refugee law and the effectiveness of deterrence‑based approaches.
Background of Haidary Hamedullah’s Journey
Haidary Hamedullah, a 28‑year‑old former Afghan soldier, fled Afghanistan with his wife and two children after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. After reaching Pakistan, he attempted multiple times to enter Europe via Greece and Bulgaria, only to be turned back each time. Exhausting all asylum avenues in Austria, he decided to try the risky Channel crossing from France to the United Kingdom, hoping to secure a safer future for his family still residing in Pakistan.
The One-in-One-Out Agreement Between UK and France
In August 2023 the United Kingdom and France signed a bilateral arrangement commonly referred to as the “one‑in‑one‑out” deal. Under its terms, the UK may refuse entry to migrants who have crossed the Channel illegally if they are judged ineligible for asylum, and in return France agrees to accept an equivalent number of asylum‑seekers who have not used small‑boat routes. The agreement was initially set to run until the end of September 2024 and has been presented by both governments as a tool to curb people‑smuggling and reduce the number of dangerous crossings.
How the Agreement Operates in Practice
When a migrant arrives in the UK after a Channel crossing, Border Force officials conduct an asylum screening. If the individual fails to meet the criteria for refugee status or humanitarian protection, they are issued a removal notice and returned to France. Simultaneously, the UK processes a comparable number of individuals who have already sought asylum in France but have not attempted the sea crossing, offering them a legal entry to Britain under the reciprocal clause. The mechanism is designed to keep the net flow of people between the two countries balanced while attempting to deter future Channel attempts.
Statistics on Returns and Admissions
By the end of June 2024 the UK had carried out 1,087 forced returns to France under the deal. In the same period, Britain admitted 1,117 migrants who had originally lodged asylum claims in France but had not used the small‑boat route. These figures illustrate the near‑one‑to‑one exchange envisaged by the treaty, though the slight surplus of admissions reflects the fluid nature of asylum processing and the timing of individual cases.
Human Impact: Detention and Deportation Experience
Hamedullah described his time in a UK detention centre near Heathrow as deeply demoralising. After arriving in Dover, he and other single men were transferred to the facility, where they spent 51 days “eating, waiting, doing nothing” with only a single television channel for entertainment. He reported receiving a brief 30‑minute consultation with a lawyer before being placed on a flight back to France, despite insisting he had committed no crime and highlighting his service alongside Western forces against the Taliban.
Voices from the Detained: Feelings of Helplessness
The sense of abandonment resonated throughout Hamedullah’s account. He told AFP, “People like me have nowhere in the world to live in safety,” and questioned where his family should go. His words echo a broader sentiment among those caught in the deal’s machinery: a feeling of being reduced to a case file rather than recognised as individuals fleeing persecution. The psychological toll of indefinite detention, coupled with the looming threat of onward removal to Austria, leaves many in a state of chronic anxiety and despair.
The Yemeni Brothers’ Parallel Struggle
A similar pattern emerges in the testimony of Yemeni brothers Yunes, 33, and Yassin, 24, who fled Houthi‑controlled Yemen in 2023 after spending 18 months in Egypt. Upon reaching France, they faced death threats from local drug dealers and opted to cross the Channel to join their sister, a British national. After a 15‑hour voyage, they were briefly welcomed with cake and orange juice before being questioned, labelled “criminals” by an interior‑ministry official, and detained for several weeks. Ultimately they were flown back to France, where they now await a decision on their right to stay, describing themselves as feeling “like an object.”
Charities’ Criticism of the Deal
More than twenty charities operating in both the UK and France have publicly condemned the agreement, arguing that it inflicts “further harm on people who have already survived war, torture, persecution, violence, human trafficking, and a treacherous sea journey.” Humanitarian organisations contend that the policy prioritises deterrence over protection, undermines the principle of non‑refoulement, and shifts responsibility away from states obligated under the 1951 Refugee Convention. They urge governments to invest in safe, legal pathways and to address root causes of displacement rather than resorting to reciprocal expulsions.
Broader Implications for Asylum Policy in Europe
The UK‑France arrangement exemplifies a growing trend among European states to externalise asylum controls through bilateral deals that emphasise numbers over individual merit. While such agreements may temporarily reduce irregular arrivals, they risk creating legal grey zones where asylum seekers are shuttled between jurisdictions without adequate safeguards. Critics warn that this approach erodes trust in the asylum system, fuels xenophobic narratives, and may ultimately prove ineffective if underlying drivers of migration—conflict, poverty, and climate change—remain unaddressed.
Conclusion: The Human Cost of Political Deals
The experiences of Haidary Hamedullah and the Yemeni brothers illuminate the stark reality behind statistical exchanges: real lives suspended in limbo, families separated, and individuals left questioning where safety can be found. As the UK‑France “one‑in‑one‑out” deal continues, policymakers must balance the imperative to manage migration with the duty to uphold humanitarian obligations. Without meaningful reform that prioritises protection, legal avenues, and international cooperation, the human cost of such arrangements will likely continue to rise.