An inflatable dinghy carrying migrants makes its way towards England in the English Channel, Britain, August 6, 2024. File Photo: REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the agreement during a summit held in London last month.

Under the deal, migrants who cross the English Channel to the UK in small boats and are denied asylum will be returned to France, where they departed. In return, the UK will accept a similar number of migrants from France, provided they have family members in the UK or belong to vulnerable groups at risk of exploitation by human trafficking networks.

Notably, individuals relocated under this agreement will be permanently barred from re-entering the UK, even through legal channels.

According to the UK Home Office, the pilot program is set to begin within days, initially targeting the return of around 50 unauthorized migrants to France each week, totaling 2,600 people per year. The trial phase will run until June 2026, after which both countries will assess its effectiveness before determining the next steps.

In the first seven months of this year, over 25,000 people crossed the English Channel to the UK by small boat, up 49% compared to the same period last year. On July 30 alone, 898 individuals arrived this way, marking a record high for a single day.