Hundreds of asylum seekers forcibly returned from the United Kingdom to France as part of a “one in, one out” deportation deal have disappeared, according to multiple human rights organizations. Among those missing are at least 41 individuals whose ages were disputed and who are believed to be children or young people.
The arrangement, a pilot scheme launched in July 2025 by leaders from both countries, aimed to exchange small-boat asylum seekers crossing the Channel, returning arrivals to France while allowing legal admissions from France to the UK. Official figures show about 1,400 small-boat migrants have been sent back to France since the agreement’s inception, less than 4% of the approximately 32,000 who crossed over during that time.
Disappearance of Vulnerable Asylum Seekers
NGO representatives informed British parliamentarians that many of those returned under the scheme have gone off the radar, with human rights advocates expressing alarm about the treatment and fate of vulnerable individuals, especially children. Maddie Harris, director of the Humans For Rights Network, shared that several organizations compiled a list of at least 41 age-disputed children who were unlawfully returned, despite protections excluding lone minors from the treaty’s scope.
The UK Home Office has categorically denied that any asylum seekers with disputed ages have been returned, stating that age assessments and legal rights are upheld for detainees. However, independent monitoring boards have reported nearly 100 children identified as unlawfully detained as adults under the scheme. Jane Leech, interim chair of the prisons and detention monitoring body, raised concerns about unlawful detentions occurring as the Home Office reportedly detains more people than it can actually remove.
Challenges After Return to France
French authorities acknowledge that only about 200 people forcibly returned remain in contact with them. Numerous returnees interviewed by journalists have described living underground across Europe due to fear of hostile treatment by French officials, pressure to repatriate to unsafe home countries, or risks of forced transfers to other EU states such as Bulgaria.
Maddie Harris called the forced return of lone children “shameful,” noting the acute violence and exploitation many of these children have suffered. Medical humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières reported that many returnees exhibit severe psychological distress, including flashbacks, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Nihal Osman from MSF described the situation as “the accumulation of trauma on trauma.”
Policy Outlook and Reactions
The deal between the UK and France is set to expire on October 1, 2026, with uncertain prospects for extension or replacement. The U.K. home secretary is reportedly advocating for expanding the scheme, while France has suggested broadening it across Europe, though attempts to involve other countries have met with resistance.
Alex Sobel, chair of the British parliamentary joint committee on human rights, expressed deep concern over increased securitization of the French border. He noted that French police actions toward asylum seekers would be deemed unacceptable if carried out by British authorities.
The UK Home Office maintains that the fate of individuals after return is under French jurisdiction. The French interior ministry declined to comment on the disappearances reported by NGOs and parliamentarians.
