Britain and France agreed on Thursday to launch a pilot program that will return some migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats back to France, as the U.K. government faces mounting criticism over its handling of border control.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deal Thursday in London. While the initial program is limited to a small number of people, U.K. officials suggest it is a major breakthrough because it sets a precedent that migrants who reach Britain illegally can be returned to France.
"There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables,'' Starmer told reporters at a news conference. "For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order."
Under the agreement, Britain will send some of those who cross the Channel in small boats back to France while accepting an equal number of migrants who are judged to have legitimate claims to asylum in the U.K.
Starmer had pushed for the arrangement, known as the "one in, one out" deal, in hopes of discouraging people from making the dangerous crossing.
