First Channel migrant deported to France under 'one in, one out' deal
The first Channel migrant has been deported to France under Sir Keir Starmer's 'one in, one out' deal, Sky News understands.
The person was put on a flight earlier on Thursday, in what is the first stage of a pilot programme aimed at bringing down the record high numbers of small boat crossings.
The news will be seen as a win for ministers after the deportation of another individual was blocked by the high court at the eleventh hour on Wednesday.
The 'one in one out' deal allows the UK to send back a migrant who crosses the Channel illegally in exchange for accepting the same number of migrants in France who have a valid asylum claim.
It is hoped this will act as a deterrent by persuading migrants not to pay people smugglers to help them get to the UK knowing there is a risk they could be detained and deported.
The government has stressed that although the numbers will start off small, they expect removals to be ramped up over time as the scheme is tested.
More than 30,000 people have crossed the Channel illegally so far this year, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to stop any more from coming.
However a previous attempt to deport people this week was blocked by the courts.
An Eritrean man, who can't be named for legal reasons, was due to be on a flight to France on Wednesday morning, but was allowed to stay after bringing a claim against the Home Office.
The court granted him14 days to make representations to support his claim that he was a victim of modern slavery.
Ms Mahmood has said she will fight last minute claims against removals, and that the use of modern slavery legislation to block deportations made a "mockery of our laws".
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