A man who was deported to France by Britain under the UK-France 'one in, one out' asylum arrangement has managed to secretly re-enter Britain and is currently living incognito, according to reports by The Guardian. The asylum seeker described his current living conditions as desperate, driven by fear of smugglers, police, and immigration enforcers. It further emerged that the asylum seeker was attacked by smugglers in France for refusing to work with them, an act that compelled him to return to Britain.
Details from the Report
Sources from The Guardian were used as the foundation of this account, with information provided by the Home Office and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants offering insight into the official position and campaign group's views. In interviews, The Guardian obtained information from the asylum seeker and other returnees concerning their living conditions under the UK-France agreement.
The man confirmed that smugglers operating near camps in northern France had shifted from using dinghies to trucks following the 'one in, one out' policy. According to his explanation, smugglers demanded between €1,000 and €2,000 for a boat crossing, whereas truck transport cost between €4,000 and €5,000. 'After I was sent back to France by the Home Office, the smugglers caught me and wanted to force me to work with them,' he said. 'I refused, and they beat me so badly that my face is still full of bruises and injuries. I escaped and felt my only option was to come back to the UK, which is safer for me.'
Other Returnees and Smuggling Tactics
He knew at least 18 other people who returned to the UK after being removed under the agreement. Several other refugees interviewed by The Guardian who returned to Britain from mainland Europe reported similar circumstances regarding Channel crossings. The 'one in, one out' approach aimed to curb small boat crossings and disrupt smuggling rings. However, thousands of migrants continue to cross the Channel. Smugglers have adapted by launching more boats from Belgium and offering costly lorry transport to evade French authorities.
Data from April 28 revealed that 605 individuals were sent back to France in exchange for 581 entering the UK under this arrangement. Channel crossings this year have declined by about one-third compared to last year, partly due to adverse weather conditions.
Current Living Situation
The immigrant man currently resides in a makeshift room arranged by a friend in London. He remains in hiding due to fear. 'I'm in a city outside London, and I'm scared to leave this room,' he said. 'I'm running from the smugglers, the police, and the Home Office. I don't have a life anymore, and I don't have a plan.' He added that immigration restrictions could force vulnerable people into illegal activity. 'I'm not a bad person for the UK. I want to live in peace here, work legally, and be safe. But people like me who are living underground can be forced into crime to survive.'
Another Asylum Seeker's Case
The report also highlighted a separate case of an asylum seeker who fled Britain earlier this year due to threats of detention and deportation. Now residing in Italy, he received an email from the Home Office regarding possible enforcement, as the Home Office believes he is still in Britain. 'It is crazy to receive this from the Home Office,' he said. 'They do not realize I am no longer in the UK.'
Reactions and Official Response
Seema Syeda of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants condemned the current border policy and called for more effective legal routes for immigrants. A Home Office spokesperson justified the agreement and discouraged migrants from trying to return. 'Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money,' the spokesperson said. 'They will be removed again.'
