MORE than 35,000 people have crossed to the UK on small boats this year — but just 26 have been returned to France.
Two chartered flights have taken migrants back in the past two weeks as part of the Government’s one-in one-out deal with Paris.
More than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel on Wednesday as deportations remain at just 0.07 per cent this year[/caption]
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘We are sending a clear message: if you come here illegally, you face being detained and removed’[/caption]
But despite Labour claiming it sends a “clear message” arrivals could be detained and removed, more than 1,000 people arrived on small boats on Wednesday alone.
Fifteen boats carrying 1,075 people took the total in 2025 up to 35,476 — meaning just 0.07 per cent of this year’s arrivals have been deported.
The Home Office has released footage of a flight that took off last week carrying ten migrants to France.
It showed dozens of guards shepherding people up the steps to the plane.
As part of the British taxpayer-funded reciprocal deal, 18 eligible people have so far come to the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “We are sending a clear message: if you come here illegally, you face being detained and removed, so think twice before making that journey.”
Sir Keir Starmer is pushing ahead with plans to let more foreign workers fill key UK jobs — despite a visa ban that aims to curb migration levels.
Dancers, photographers and welders are among 82 “crucial” roles that could be temporarily exempted to plug short-term skills gaps.
The aim is to keep migration down as visas will be time-limited and not lead to settlement.
But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This is madness.
“We should be ending all forms of low-wage migration, not opening it up.
“It is insane to claim we have a critical shortage of dancers and photographers.”
