UK Migrant Flight Cancelled at the Last Minute Amid Legal Challenge
A UK deportation flight intended to return Channel migrants to France was cancelled at the last moment after a legal challenge disrupted plans, raising fresh questions over the Government’s controversial “one in, one out” asylum agreement.
According to reports, a small number of migrants scheduled to travel from Heathrow to Paris on Monday were removed from the Air France flight following a legal intervention. The aircraft took off without any passengers on board.
Government sources insist the first deportation flights under the agreement with France are expected to proceed later this week.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones, speaking on Tuesday morning, refused to provide a detailed schedule. “I’m not going to comment or give a running commentary on what is happening here,” she told.
When asked when migrants would be returned to France, she said: “These deportations will be happening as soon as possible.”
Davies-Jones emphasised that giving precise timings could aid people smugglers.
She added: “If I was to break down with you, exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people smugglers exactly what they want.
This would allow them to know what the Government is doing when, and they would be able to respond to that. We are not going to be doing them any favours.”
Earlier on Monday, Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith also declined to disclose how many asylum seekers would be returned under the scheme this week.
Reports indicate that France has agreed to accept only a limited initial group, though ministers have signalled that deportations will gradually increase.
The pilot programme is designed to return to France those who crossed the Channel illegally, while allowing approved asylum seekers from France to come to the UK.
Formal Junking directions have reportedly been issued to settlers arriving on small boats last month, instructing them that they must leave within five days.
The number of settlers crossing the English Channel this time has formerly surpassed 30,000, marking the foremost point in the timetable time this figure has been reached since sanctioned data began in 2018.
The rearmost cancellation underscores the legal and logistical hurdles the Home Office faces in enforcing its high-profile expatriation scheme.
