Asylum Seekers Question Fairness of UK Entry Procedures
Asylum seekers brought to the UK by the Home Office are expressing concerns over the fairness of the entry process. They argue that it is unjust for them to enter the country simply because another individual has been deported under the existing policy.
This policy, known as the ‘one in, one out’ scheme, allows for a new asylum seeker to be transported to the UK legally when another asylum seeker who arrived via boat to France is sent back. This controversial approach has sparked significant debate.
In a recent interview, an asylum seeker legally admitted to the UK shared his viewpoint. He remarked on his happiness in being in the UK but questioned the ethics of sending back someone who arrived by precarious means. To protect his identity, The Guardian has refrained from publishing his name.
The individual expressed his disapproval of the policy, noting, “I don’t support sending some people back to France so that people like me can come to the UK.” Since the policy’s announcement in July of last year, over 900 individuals have been allowed to claim asylum in the UK, with a similar number arriving irregularly.
Safe Passage, a charity advocating for the rights of French asylum seekers attempting to enter the UK legally, has criticized this policy as lacking authenticity in providing a genuine route to protection.
While acknowledging that the legal route from Paris to the UK was significantly safer than risking dangerous small boat crossings, the asylum seeker highlighted the ongoing wait for the processing of his asylum claim. “We are waiting for the actual interview for our asylum application, and there is nothing to do while we wait,” he stated, emphasizing the stagnation in his life.
The asylum seeker also recounted his experience with the application process, noting that he had applied online. He explained that, after biometrics and passports were taken in Paris, he waited at a hotel until he learned whether he would receive a temporary visa to fly to the UK. Once in the country, he was processed smoothly, citing the Home Office staff as “very helpful and friendly.”
Charity Voices Concern Over Processing Delays
Gnes Kalkan, head of campaigns for Safe Passage, acknowledged the charity’s support for a secure route from France to the UK but criticized the delays in application processing. Such challenges are impeding the scheme from becoming a genuine avenue for asylum seekers seeking protection in the UK.
Recent findings from the French National Assembly’s Commission of Inquiry revealed that as of February 2026, 89% of individuals brought to the UK under the ‘one in, one out’ policy were single men aged between 20 and 39. This demographic detail raises further questions about the effectiveness and intended use of the scheme.
While small boat crossings have reportedly decreased, the inquiry noted that the current measures are not serving as a credible deterrent. In the first five months of this year, Channel crossings fell by over a third compared to the same period last year, yet the numbers remain substantially high.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that several families have made successful applications under the Anglo-French Agreement, assuring that all applicants undergo rigorous security and identity checks prior to arrival. Those failing these checks will not be permitted to enter the UK under this agreement, as efforts continue to manage immigration at the UK-French border.
