The UK government has signed a landmark agreement with France to curb small boat crossings in the English Channel by funding the detention and deportation of asylum seekers on French soil. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez formalized the deal during a ceremony in Dunkirk on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Detention and Deportation Strategy
Under the terms of the deal, the UK will fund 200 French officers tasked with detaining and deporting individuals seeking asylum from some of the world’s most oppressive and war-ravaged regimes. This marks the first time the French government has agreed to specifically target those attempting to reach the UK via small boats.
A removal site in Dunkirk, with a capacity for 140 people, will be used to hold individuals from 10 specific nationalities: Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, Vietnam, and Yemen. The Home Office identified these as the top 10 nationalities that crossed the Channel by small boat last year.
Funding and Enforcement
The agreement involves a new three-year, £500m baseline deal to increase enforcement on northern French beaches, running through March 2029. A £162m “payment by results” package will fund the detain-and-deport approach and the new detention centre.
Funding for the Dunkirk facility is tied to performance; if the scheme does not deliver proven results and value for money in its first year, the funding may be withdrawn. To support these efforts, UK funds are expected to pay for batons, shields, and teargas for a 50-strong riot squad trained in crowd control tactics.
Legal and Humanitarian Concerns
The deal has sparked significant backlash from human rights organizations. Jo Cobley, chief executive of Safe Passage International, described the move as “disgraceful and unlawful,” arguing that it returns people to active war zones or places where they face persecution.
Sile Reynolds of Freedom from Torture warned that detaining survivors of torture and war could cause profound damage, increasing the risk of self-harm and suicide. She argued that the claim of swift returns to home countries is “grossly misleading” given the risks faced by many of these individuals.
Government Justification
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the policy, stating that collaboration with France is critical to stopping the boats. She dismissed calls to stop payments to France as “fundamentally unserious,” describing the crossings as a shared problem requiring a joint response.
Regarding the deportation of people from countries like Afghanistan and Iran, Mahmood noted that they could be returned to safe EU countries they transited through, citing the EU’s “new pact on migration and asylum” as the legal framework for such actions. Home Office sources added that deportations to home countries would only be requested if those countries were ruled safe, such as Vietnam.
What Happens Next
The targeting approach by nationality is expected to be trialled starting next month using existing capacity at a removal centre in Coquelles.
While the Dunkirk site was first pledged by Rishi Sunak’s government in 2023, it remains under construction with no buildings yet completed. We see likely to become operational by the end of 2026, provided funding continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nationalities are being targeted under the new deal?
The removal site in Dunkirk will target people from Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, Vietnam, and Yemen.
How much is the UK paying for this agreement?
The deal consists of a £500m baseline deal for beach enforcement over three years and an additional £162m flexible, results-based package for the detention and deportation scheme.
Where will asylum seekers be sent if they cannot return to their home country?
Those who cannot be sent home may be sent to third EU countries if they have already been processed and fingerprinted in those nations.
Do you believe financial incentives for foreign governments are an effective way to manage border security?