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The new migrant returns scheme agreed upon by the home secretary and France on Thursday has been deemed “robust” enough to withstand potential legal challenges. Yvette Cooper mentioned being in close contact with European governments who have expressed concerns about the “one in, one out” deal, noting the European Union’s support in this matter. She stated that the government had put in significant effort to ensure the system’s resilience against legal challenges, which had hindered previous deportation efforts under the Conservative government.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the plan to return an expected 50 migrants a week to France as a mere “gimmick”. The agreement, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of Macron’s state visit to the UK, proposes a pilot scheme where for each migrant returned by the UK, another with a legal claim in France will be accepted. Both countries believe this “ground-breaking” plan will disrupt the model of people smugglers and discourage migrants from making the perilous Channel crossing in small boats.
Cooper refrained from disclosing the exact number of migrants to be exchanged under the deal, but it is anticipated that around 50 individuals will be part of the initial pilot program each week. The home secretary mentioned that the UK and France have not set fixed figures for the pilot or subsequent phases, with intentions to extend the scheme as much as possible. She also mentioned a complementary plan to target those working illegally in the UK, seen as a driving factor for small boat crossings.
Under the pilot scheme, Cooper stated that migrants attempting to re-enter the UK after being returned to France will face immediate return and be barred from the UK asylum system. Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union cautioned that while the plan could potentially come into effect next week, legal challenges associated with the scheme could prolong the process. She highlighted the possibility of challenges regarding the selection criteria for returnees to France. Philp criticized the plan as another ineffective measure allowing the majority of illegal migrants to stay in the UK, pointing out the failure of Labour’s pledge to eliminate criminal gangs. He criticized the decision to scrap Boris Johnson’s Rwanda scheme, highlighting the chaos in the previous government’s handling of migration
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