Another migrant has been sent back to France as part of the “one in, one out” agreement after an unsuccessful High Court challenge. The individual, a man from Eritrea, was deported on a flight departing from Heathrow to Paris at 6:15 am on Friday, according to the Home Office. This follows the deportation of an Indian national early on Thursday, a move praised as significant by Keir Starmer.

The government aims to deter individuals from using smugglers to reach the UK through these removals. However, distressing images emerged on Friday morning showing children being placed on a small boat off the coast of France. Among these images was a man carrying a young child on his shoulders as they entered the Channel. The boat departed from Gravelines beach in Calais at dawn.

Efforts are being made to disrupt the criminal gangs profiting from these perilous crossings, which resulted in the loss of a minimum of 78 lives in 2024. During a past visit to the UK, Donald Trump suggested utilizing the military to combat trafficking.

When asked about the President’s proposal, Business Secretary Peter Kyle mentioned the enhanced capabilities of the UK Border Force and the potential collaboration with the Navy if required. However, he stressed the need for the military to focus on broader national defense priorities.

The government is prepared to amend laws to address the issue of small boat crossings across the Channel. Keir Starmer expressed satisfaction with the initial deportation under the agreement with France, which mandates detaining and removing small boat arrivals in exchange for the UK accepting individuals with valid claims who have not attempted the Channel crossing before.

Starmer described the first deportation as a significant advancement and emphasized the need to scale up such actions.