The United Kingdom and France have announced a new "one in, one out" deal aimed at addressing the ongoing issue of illegal migration across the English Channel. This significant agreement was unveiled by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during the UK-France Summit in London, held during President Macron's state visit on July 10, 2025. The core principle of the deal is that for every migrant returned to France after illegally crossing the Channel to the UK on small boats, an asylum seeker who wishes to come to the UK via a safe, legal route will be granted entry, provided they have not previously attempted illegal entry.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper clarified that while the pilot program is set to commence in a few weeks, the specific numbers of migrants to be returned have not yet been fixed. Despite earlier reports suggesting 50 returns per week, Cooper stated that this step-by-step pilot approach allows for development and adjustments, ensuring the agreement's effectiveness. She emphasized the importance of making sure the "one for one agreement" works and expressed confidence in increasing its scale over time. Cooper also noted extensive discussions and legal work undertaken with the French interior minister since October last year, as well as positive engagement with EU commissioners to ensure a robust legal position against potential challenges.

During the announcement, President Macron linked the surge in small boat crossings to Brexit, stating that the UK's departure from the EU resulted in the absence of a comprehensive migration deal, thus creating an "incentive to make the crossing." He suggested that the British public had been misinformed about the consequences. While Home Secretary Cooper did not directly concur with the "lie" statement, she acknowledged that criminal smuggler gangs exploit any prevailing circumstances. She cited examples where gangs manipulated Brexit timelines to encourage crossings, and later exploited the absence of the Dublin Agreement post-Brexit to claim asylum seekers could not be returned.

Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to combating the criminal gangs orchestrating people-smuggling operations. Sir Keir Starmer underscored the necessity for new tactics and a renewed resolve to tackle illegal migration and dismantle the business model of these gangs, stating that the current situation in the Channel is unsustainable. President Macron also urged the UK to address "pull factors" that attract migrants. In response, a UK government spokesman affirmed efforts to "toughen every part of the system to ensure the rules are enforced and respected," making it clear that migrants arriving illegally will not be permitted to work in the UK.

Despite the joint resolve, concerns have been raised regarding the deal's potential impact. Critics argue that a 50-person weekly limit might be insufficient, given that over 20,000 people illegally crossed the English Channel in the first six months of 2025. However, supporters maintain that the initial numbers could be increased later. The dangerous nature of these crossings remains a grave concern, with 80 lives lost in 2024 alone. Christa Rottensteiner, chief of mission for the United Nations' migration agency, highlighted the broader perspective, advocating that countries also address the root causes of the global migrant crisis.