UK–France treaty to counter illegal migrant crossings enters force

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

A new bilateral treaty between the United Kingdom and France aimed at curbing dangerous migrant crossings over the English Channel officially came into force on 4 August 2025. Under the agreement, individuals arriving in the UK via small boats may be swiftly detained and returned to France under a “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme, while the UK also accepts a matching number of asylum seekers from France through legal channels.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that over 82 migrants died attempting the crossing in 2024, with at least 18 more fatalities recorded so far in 2025.

According to the BBC, the treaty seeks to undermine trafficking networks by discouraging illegal crossings and offering structured legal routes, although critics warn that deportations—initially set at about 50 people per week—may affect only a small fraction of the total arrivals.

The Guardian further reports that the deal identifies a priority to deter Channel crossings by returning illegal boat arrivals to France while allowing legal arrivals under vetted asylum programs. A direct response to record-high numbers of crossings and fatalities in 2024 and 2025, and aims to dismantle the business model of people-smuggling networks by combining enforcement and legal alternatives.