UK Sends Migrant Back to France After Illegal Return

Home Office sources said the man, who was removed on September 19 and then returned to the UK on October 18, was among those on a return flight on Wednesday morning.

The Iranian man claimed he had been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smuggling gangs in France.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the man's case was fast-tracked after he was identified through biometrics and detained. She added: "Anyone attempting to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money.

"My message is clear: if you attempt to return to the UK, you will be sent back." "I will take every necessary step to remove illegal migrants and secure our borders."

The man, who has not been named, previously told the Guardian that he returned to the UK because he feared for his life in France.

Speaking about his alleged treatment by smugglers, he said: "They treated me like a piece of rubbish, forced me to work, mistreated me, and threatened me with a gun, saying they would kill me if I resisted in any way."

To date, 94 migrants have been removed from the UK under this agreement, which sees the UK agree to take in refugees who have a protection claim and who have not attempted to cross the Channel illegally.

Under this scheme, 57 people have arrived in the UK from France.

More than 36,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats since the start of the year.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch previously said the case showed the government was "in complete chaos," and said in a post on X that it was "too weak to take the tough decisions needed to secure our borders."

Maddy Harris, director of the Humans for Rights Network, said her organization was in contact with the Iranian man.

She said he was "extremely frightened" after being removed from the UK for the first time due to the treatment he received from smugglers.

She added: "While in France, he suffered horrific treatment at the hands of those who organize the journeys to the UK."