The migrant returns deal between the UK and France will remain in place until October after both governments agreed to extend the arrangement for another four months.
French officials confirmed the extension on Wednesday, ensuring the policy continues until 1 October 2026. The agreement, known as Operation Hillmore, first came into force in September 2025 as part of efforts to reduce illegal crossings across the English Channel.
Under the scheme, Britain can return some migrants who arrive by small boats and do not qualify to remain in the country. In return, the UK accepts an equal number of asylum seekers from France who are considered likely to receive protection.
French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad announced the extension during a parliamentary committee meeting. He said both governments agreed to continue the programme while monitoring its results. According to French figures, 606 migrants had returned to France under the arrangement by 1 May. Meanwhile, 588 asylum seekers transferred legally from France to the UK during the same period.
Official data suggests the programme has affected only a small share of arrivals. UK Home Office figures showed that 16,910 people crossed the Channel in small boats between September 2025 and March 2026. As a result, around 3.5% of those arrivals returned to France through the scheme. Critics argue that the numbers raise questions about the policy’s effectiveness as a deterrent against people-smuggling networks.
Both governments continue to present the migrant returns deal as an important tool in managing migration flows. Officials believe the arrangement creates a legal pathway for vulnerable asylum seekers while discouraging dangerous Channel crossings. Furthermore, the extension comes as Britain pursues broader immigration reforms. The government recently introduced measures designed to speed up asylum decisions and reduce the time applicants spend in the system.
The proposed changes also aim to accelerate removals for individuals from countries considered safe. Ministers argue that faster processing will help reduce pressure on public services and improve border security. Meanwhile, migration remains a major political issue for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Both face growing pressure to reduce small-boat crossings as public concern remains high.
The issue has also become a central focus for Nigel Farage and Reform UK. Farage described the policy as ineffective and has called for tougher immigration measures. Government figures show that more than 41,000 migrants reached England’s southern coast in 2025. Since small-boat crossings became a major migration route in 2018, nearly 200,000 people have made the journey.
As debate continues, the migrant returns deal remains one of the key policies shaping cooperation between London and Paris. Officials on both sides will now review its impact ahead of the new October deadline. The future of the migrant returns deal is expected to remain under close scrutiny throughout the summer.
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