Key Takeaways
- France and the UK have extended the “one‑in, one‑out” migrant return agreement (Operation Hillmore) until 1 October 2026.
- Under the scheme, the UK can return to France migrants who arrive by small boat and lack a right to remain, while accepting an equivalent number of asylum seekers from France deemed likely to qualify for protection.
- As of 1 May 2026, 606 migrants have been readmitted to France and 588 asylum seekers transferred from France to the UK under the arrangement.
- Between 1 September 2025 and 31 March 2026, 16,910 people reached the UK by small boats; only about 3.5 % of those arrivals have been returned via Operation Hillmore.
- Despite government claims that the policy deters smuggling gangs, Channel crossings remain high, with over 41,000 arrivals in 2025 and nearly 200,000 total since the route emerged.
- The UK’s new Immigration and Asylum Bill seeks to halve the time asylum seekers can stay and speed up removals from countries deemed safe, reflecting ongoing political pressure to curb illegal migration.
Extension of the Franco‑British Return Agreement
France and the United Kingdom have agreed to prolong their “one‑in, one‑out” migrant returns pact, known as Operation Hillmore, until 1 October 2026. The announcement came from France’s minister delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, during a parliamentary committee hearing on Wednesday. The extension signals both nations’ continued reliance on the bilateral mechanism to manage the flow of people attempting the perilous crossing of the English Channel.
How Operation Hillmore Operates
Under the arrangement, the UK may return to France migrants who arrive in small boats and are judged not to have a legal right to remain in Britain. In exchange, France sends to the UK an equivalent number of asylum seekers who are considered likely to qualify for international protection, with priority given to vulnerable nationalities and individuals who have family or other ties to the United Kingdom. This reciprocal swap aims to balance responsibilities while offering a pathway for those with genuine protection needs.
Statistical Snapshot of the Scheme’s Impact
As of 1 May 2026, French authorities reported that 606 migrants had been readmitted to France under Operation Hillmore, while 588 people had been legally transferred from France to the UK. These figures illustrate a near‑one‑to‑one exchange, though the absolute numbers remain modest compared with the overall volume of Channel crossings. The data were disclosed by Haddad, who emphasized that the scheme continues to function as intended despite criticisms.
Channel Crossing Numbers and Return Rates
UK Home Office statistics reveal that 16,910 individuals reached the United Kingdom by small boats between 1 September 2025 and 31 March 2026. April 2026 figures were not yet available at the time of reporting. Of those arrivals, only about 3.5 % have been returned to France under the new policy, indicating that the majority of migrants who make the crossing remain in the UK, at least temporarily. The low return proportion raises questions about the agreement’s effectiveness as a deterrent.
Government Claims vs. On‑the‑Ground Reality
British officials have repeatedly asserted that Operation Hillmore acts as a deterrent to people‑smuggling gangs, suggesting that the prospect of being sent back to France discourages would‑be migrants. However, the persistently high numbers of small‑boat arrivals—more than 41,000 in 2025 alone, the second‑highest annual total since records began in 2018—suggest that smuggling networks continue to operate successfully. Since the route emerged as a major migration pathway, nearly 197,000 people have attempted the Channel crossing in inflatable vessels.
France’s Role as a Departure Point
France remains a primary launchpad for migrants seeking to reach the UK. Many pay smugglers thousands of euros for a place on overcrowded inflatable boats, embarking on a dangerous journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The hazardous nature of the voyage—marked by rough seas, heavy maritime traffic, and the risk of capsizing—has not deterred a steady stream of individuals hoping to reach British shores.
UK Legislative Response to Migration Pressures
In response to mounting public and political pressure, the UK government unveiled a fresh set of measures through the Immigration and Asylum Bill last month. The legislation aims to cut the period during which asylum seekers can remain in the country by half and to accelerate the removal of individuals whose home nations are deemed safe. These steps reflect a broader strategy to reduce the appeal of the UK as a destination for irregular migration while addressing concerns over border security and public services.
Political Challenges for the Starmer Administration
The issue of Channel crossings has become a significant political challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, which assumed office in July 2024. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has faced increasing scrutiny from opposition parties and the public to curb arrivals. Meanwhile, the anti‑immigration Reform UK party continues to perform strongly in opinion polls, underscoring the salience of migration as a voting issue. The UK Home Office has been approached for comment on the latest developments but had not issued a response at the time of publication.
Broader Context and Outlook
The extension of Operation Hillmore through late 2026 suggests that both Paris and London view the bilateral return mechanism as a useful, if imperfect, tool in managing irregular migration. While the scheme provides a structured avenue for relocating individuals with legitimate protection claims, its limited impact on overall crossing numbers highlights the need for complementary approaches—such as enhanced intelligence‑led operations against smuggling networks, improved reception conditions in France, and broader international cooperation on asylum‑seeker distribution. As the UK pursues stricter domestic asylum policies and France grapples with its own migrant pressures, the Franco‑British arrangement will likely remain a focal point of debate over how best to balance humanitarian obligations with border control imperatives.