The first deportation flights of migrants under the UK's new returns deal with France are expected to begin next week.
GB News has been told the migrants will be returned under the returns deal Sir Keir Starmer signed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The 'one in, one out' pilot scheme was set up by the two leaders during Mr Macron's state visit to the UK in July.
Under the agreement, dozens of migrants were detained in Dover last month with new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, saying this week that they are expected to return to France "imminently".
The deal was signed while Yvette Cooper was Home Secretary.
A Home Office spokesman said the removals are imminent.
"Under the new UK-France Treaty, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France," the spokesman said.
"We expect the first returns to take place imminently.
Migrants are expected to be deported imminently
| PA"Protecting the UK border is our top priority. We will do whatever it takes to restore order to secure our borders."
As part of the deal with France, the UK has agreed to accept an equal amount of asylum seekers who have not attempted to cross the Channel.
They must also pass security and eligibility checks.
Sir Keir had said the pilot scheme was a "product of months of grown-up diplomacy", however, it has been criticised by the Tory party.
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the returns are imminent
| PAAs of September 8, 30,164 people had crossed the Channel in small boats this year alone.
It is up 40 per cent - 22,440 - from the same period in 2024.
The total amount of migrants who have crossed the Channel since Sir Keir and Labour won the General Election last year has exceeded 50,000.
Ms Mahmood said on Monday that countries who refuse to "play ball" with the UK and take back their migrants could face restrictions on visas.
It could mean citizens seeking tot travel to the UK legally could be penalised if their country fails to cooperate with deportations.
"For countries that do not play ball, we've been talking about how we can take much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries," Ms Mahmood said.
"For us, that means including possibly the cutting of visas in the future.
"Just to say we do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules, and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you do need to take them back."
The Government confirmed earlier this month that no migrants had been returned back to France under its pilot scheme.
The UK is paying France almost £500million over three years - as agreed by the previous Tory Government - to fund more officers on the French coast.
The Home Office last week launched an advertising campaign in France to warn migrants about the prospect of being returned if they cross the Channel.