The Home Office had hoped the first deportation would happen earlier this week, but it was delayed after a High Court judge on Tuesday imposed a “short period of interim relief” on another migrant’s departure so lawyers could determine whether the person had been a victim of modern slavery.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said it was “an important first step to securing our borders” and “sends a message to people crossing in small boats: if you enter the U.K. illegally, we will seek to remove you.”
Mahmood said she would “continue to challenge any last-minute, vexatious attempts to frustrate a removal in the courts.”
More than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power in July 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer entered office pledging to “smash the gangs” after his predecessor Rishi Sunak’s election defeat was partially blamed on failing to “stop the boats.”
Paris also plans to reduce the number of boat crossings by changing rules on how it intercepts boats at sea.