As the Channel crisis continues to dominate headlines, one asylum seeker's searing critique of the 'one in' component of the 'one in, one out' arrangement has shed new light on its contentious nature. In an exclusive interview, he shared his concerns that the scheme's reliance on deporting those who arrived irregularly creates a sense of moral unease – is it fair to prioritise some individuals over others with potentially similar claims?
The man, who was permitted entry after another individual was forcibly returned to France, expressed his happiness at being in the UK but questioned the system's fairness. He explicitly stated he does not support deportation as a means of allowing others like himself to enter the UK.
Since its announcement last July, the 'one in' component has seen over 900 people legally admitted to the UK to apply for asylum – a number comparable to those who arrived irregularly and were subsequently moved out. Safe Passage, a charity assisting asylum seeker families in France seeking legal routes to the UK, has heavily criticised the initiative, labelling it as 'not a genuine route to protection'.
The asylum seeker acknowledged the significant advantages of his journey compared to small boat crossings – he travelled by plane from Paris and underwent online application, biometric data collection and passport verification in France. Upon arrival in the UK, he was taken to a Home Office building for interviews. He noted that, unlike many others in his situation, he has primarily observed single men aged 20-39 in the hotel where he is accommodated – a demographic trend highlighted by a French national assembly inquiry earlier this year.
The inquiry found that, as of February 2026, 89% of individuals brought to the UK under this scheme were single men within this age range. Despite a reduction in Channel crossings, the data suggests the 'one in' component has not yet served as an effective deterrent. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that multiple families have successfully applied under the UK-France agreement and emphasised the thorough security checks conducted before travel.