Eritrean migrant who had deportation blocked at the last minute FINALLY sent back to France under 'one in, one out' deal

WATCH: Mark White and Tom Harwood poke fun at first successful migrant deportation flight |

GB NEWS

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 19/09/2025

- 08:51

The migrant left the UK at 6:15am from Heathrow Airport

An Eritrean man has become the second migrant to be deported under the Government's "one-in, one-out" scheme with France, after a last-minute court bid to delay the departure failed.

The migrant left the UK on an Air France flight from Heathrow Airport to Paris, accompanied by Home Office officials.


He was seen wearing a white hoodie while sitting with three Home Office officials at the back of the Air France jet.

The Home Office confirmed he was on board the flight, which departed the UK at 6:15am.

The UK and France struck a deal for the scheme some eight weeks under the former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The first flight under the agreement returned one Indian national yesterday.

On Thursday, the migrant brought a claim against the Home Office regarding his deportation.

During the hearing in London, his barristers asked for "interim relief" so that a full legal challenge could be made against his deportation.

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Air France

The migrant departed the UK on an Air France flight

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They called the decision "procedurally unfair" because he had not been allowed to provide evidence to support his claim that he was an "alleged trafficking victim".

However, the Home Office opposed the bid and told the court there was "no serious issue to be tried".

In his ruling, Mr Justice Sheldon said: "In my judgement, the application for interim relief is refused. The test for injunctive relief is not made out.

"I consider that there is no serious issue to be tried in this case."

Having granted the migrant anonymity, Mr Justice Sheldon added there was "significant public interest in favour of the claimant's removal".

He also stated that the man had given a second account of his alleged trafficking that was "so different from the initial account provided".

The judge continued: "It was open to [the Home Office] to conclude that his credibility was severely damaged and his account of trafficking could not reasonably be believed."

When making his decision to deport the man, the Home Office had "sufficient information" and it was therefore "reasonable" to conclude that "further information would not make any material difference".

A Small boat

Over 50,000 small boat migrants have crossed the Channel under Labour

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the removal of the first two migrants "has dealt a blow to the smuggler gangs".

She said: "The removal of small boat migrants to France has begun. I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders - and this is a vital first step."

In the Eritrean's place will be a planned reciprocal flight of a legitimate asylum seeker from France to the UK.

A senior immigration official said: "We have already had an arrival this morning and will no doubt welcome two today and we expect a departure on Saturday of a group of asylum seekers to the UK."

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