Britain's Bold 'One In, One Out' Migrant Deal with France

In a significant move to curb illegal migration, Britain will soon implement a new deal to return some migrants, arriving by small boats, to France. This operation is set to begin within days, following a treaty that was ratified on Tuesday.

The initiative, described as a 'one in, one out' scheme, was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Under the agreement, France will take back undocumented migrants arriving in Britain, in exchange for Britain accepting an equivalent number of legitimate asylum seekers with family connections in the UK.

As this year sees more than 25,000 arrivals on small boats, the British government aims to 'smash the gangs' facilitating these arrivals. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned that while the initial numbers would be small, the agreement marks a step in a broader plan to deter illegal migration, with efforts also targeting smuggling networks.

(With inputs from agencies.)