Key facts
- An asylum seeker brought to the UK via a 'one in, one out' scheme has voiced concerns about its fairness.
- The scheme involves deporting one asylum seeker to France for each one admitted legally to the UK.
An asylum seeker brought to the UK under a controversial 'one in, one out' scheme has stated it is unfair that his legal entry was contingent on another asylum seeker being deported to France. The scheme allows one asylum seeker to enter the UK legally for each one deported.
The 'one in, one out' scheme is a key component of the UK's controversial immigration policy, and this is the first time an asylum seeker admitted under the program has publicly criticized its fairness and effectiveness, raising questions about its humanitarian impact and deterrent value.
An asylum seeker brought to the UK under the government's 'one in, one out' scheme has described the policy as unjust, stating that his legal entry was contingent on another asylum seeker being deported to France. The individual, who spoke anonymously to the Guardian, expressed that it is not fair for one person to be sent back to France so that another with a potentially similar case can come to the UK legally.
Since its announcement last July, over 900 individuals have been admitted to the UK to apply for asylum under this scheme, with a comparable number who arrived irregularly being moved out. The charity Safe Passage has condemned the policy, asserting it is not a genuine route to protection. The asylum seeker acknowledged that his journey to the UK by plane from Paris was significantly safer and quicker than the perilous small boat crossings undertaken by others, but he described being in a state of limbo while awaiting his asylum interview, unable to work or study.
He detailed his application process, which involved applying online, providing biometrics and passports in Paris, and waiting for temporary visa approval before flying to the UK. Upon arrival, he and others in the 'in' group were taken to a Home Office building for interviews. Home Office staff were described as dealing with the process diplomatically and being friendly. Gunes Kalkan, head of campaigns at Safe Passage, noted that while the provision of a safe route is welcomed, processing delays upon arrival hinder it from being a genuine protection route.
Earlier this year, a French national assembly commission heard that as of February 2026, 89% of individuals brought to the UK under the 'one in, one out' scheme were single men aged between 20 and 39. The commission also noted that the scheme had not yet deterred small boat crossings, despite a reported decrease in Channel crossings in the first five months of the year. A Home Office spokesperson stated that multiple families have successfully applied under the agreement and that all individuals transferred undergo robust security and identity checks.
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