THE first deportation through the new “one in, one out” system has been cancelled at the last minute due to protests.
A Channel migrant was set to be flown to France as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s deal – before they were held back at the eleventh hour.
gary stoneIt has been reported the French authorities will put him up in a hotel in Roissy-en-France[/caption]
This year alone, some 31,026 migrants have arrived in the UK on small boatsCrown Copyright
As reported by the Telegraph, they were due to travel from Heathrow to Paris on an Air France passenger flight on Monday.
The Home Office is understood to be organising him a different flight on Tuesday,
It has been reported the French authorities will put him up in a hotel in Roissy-en-France, however officials said he could be housed in a reception centre.
But both British and French charities have vowed to flood Air France with phone calls, emails and social media messages that warn: “Not to agree to collaborate with the interior ministry and not to agree to deport these people on these flights”.
A spokesman for Auberge des Migrants said: “There were a lot of people who responded to this campaign and agreed to send emails asking for this collaboration with the Government to be stopped.”
It’s understood many of the migrants waiting in the scheme are being advised by lawyers.
They are entitled to a “generous” amount of time to challenge their deportations, according to the Home Office.
It’s been reported the process is taking longer than had previously been expected.
It is thought there will only be 10 or less migrants per flight for the first several.
A French interior ministry source told French media: “We will be able to terminate the agreement if we do not see any benefit in it.”
They added how the agreement is “still very experimental” in nature.
This comes after Tories last night raised concerns that legal cases would be brought ahead of the planes taking off.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The government is too naive to realise this.
“They have not scrapped the Human Rights Act in immigration matters or, indeed, the use of modern slavery claims as a pretext to stay in Britain.
“What we should do is deport every single illegal immigrant immediately on arrival.”
But the government has faced major criticism as since the deal came into effect last month, some 5,400 small boat migrants have arrived on UK shores.
Migrants have been told by text message that they will be sent back on Air France planes and will be accompanied by security guards.
Those being sent back to France have been given five days’ notice of the Home Office‘s intention to deport them, The Times reported.
But this will mean that anyone will be able to seek legal advice and potentially fight the decision.
The migrants will be taken from Harmondsworth immigration removal centre which is close to Heathrow airport.
Commercial planes are being used to keep costs at a minimum rather than charter private flights.
One of the messages sent to a migrant due for deportation tomorrow, seen by The Times, said: “You will be removed from the UK on Air France Flight (AF) 1681 which departs from Heathrow Terminal 4 at 09:00 on 16/09/2025 and arrives in Paris, France at 11:20 on 16/09/2025.”
It’s expected that fewer than 100 migrants will be sent back to France as part of the pilot scheme.
But this year alone, some 31,026 migrants have arrived in the UK on small boats.
GettyThe first ‘one in, one out’ migrant flight has been cancelled after protests[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
