A MIGRANT lined up for return to France has mocked Britain’s one-in, one-out deal by vowing live on air he will come straight back.
The Iraqi man said he will attempt another small-boat crossing if he gets the chance.
But in an embarrassing twist, he was not even sent back this morning morning as planned, and the Home Office offered no explanation.
Asked why he was so determined to reach Britain, he told the BBC: “How much they have compassion, how they respect the refugees, how they respect people who are in danger, that’s why I came here.”
And despite being marked for removal, he insisted the deterrent would fail: “If there is a chance of course I will come back.”
When pressed if that meant another small boat, he replied: “I will try again.”
There have already been cases of migrants deported under the scheme who then simply returned to the UK.
Under the Macron–Starmer deal, migrants arriving illegally by boat can be sent back to France in exchange for Britain taking in the same number of approved asylum seekers.
Ministers claimed the deterrent effect would kick in once the scheme grew in scale.
The pilot has been running for months but only a little over 200 individuals have so far been returned – with a similar number arriving under the safe and legal route.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Labour’s deal is another gimmick – just like their claim to smash the gangs.
” Last year they let in over 40,000 illegal channel immigrants and only returned about 200 to France.
“With a 99 per cent plus chance of staying here, no wonder illegal immigrants continue to flood across the channel.
“Only the Conservatives have a plan to fix this – leave the ECHR and that will enable us to deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. Then the crossings will soon stop.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We cannot be clearer: migrants arriving in the United Kingdom illegally on a small boat can expect to be sent back to France.”
More than 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel last year – up from the 36,566 who arrived on small boats in 2024.
