Syrian Man Returned Under UK-France Pact Faces Deportation

A Syrian asylum seeker sent back to France under a UK-France migration agreement now faces the possibility of being deported to Syria after French authorities rejected his asylum claim, in what is believed to be the first such case.

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The 26-year-old Kurdish man arrived in the UK by small boat but was returned to France last November under the “one in, one out” scheme agreed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2025.

The arrangement aims to deter Channel crossings by returning one small-boat arrival from the UK to France in exchange for allowing another asylum seeker in northern France to enter the UK through legal routes. Both governments described France as a safe destination for people sent back under the plan.

However, after submitting an asylum claim in France, the Syrian man has now been told by French authorities that he could safely return to Syria.

First case linked to the scheme

The decision is believed to be the first known instance of an asylum seeker returned under the policy subsequently facing deportation to their country of origin.

In a rejection letter, French officials stated that the applicant had failed to demonstrate that returning to Syria would expose him personally to a serious threat.

“The individual … has not presented any relevant arguments that would convince the office that his personal circumstances would pose a serious and individual threat to his life or person should he return to his country,” the letter said.

Syria is not included on the European Union’s current list of countries considered safe for the return of asylum seekers.

The man’s asylum interview reportedly lasted just over an hour, followed by a second session lasting 49 minutes. According to documents seen by the Guardian, much of the questioning focused on verifying his claim that he had lived in a particular Syrian village.

Fleeing forced conscription

The man says he fled Syria after learning that the Kurdish militia operating in his area had placed his name on a list for compulsory military service.

He said a village leader told him the militia, known as the YPG, planned to conscript him.

“I didn’t want to go to war and kill people,” he said.

He left Syria last year with members of his family, including his mother and younger siblings. They crossed into Turkey with the help of smugglers but were separated during the journey.

According to his account, the smugglers forced him into a different vehicle from the rest of his family.

“I do not know what has happened to my family,” he said. “I have not managed to make contact with them since the smugglers separated us.”

The uncertainty and stress of the situation, he said, have taken a toll on his health.

“I am so stressed by everything that has happened to me that my hair has started falling out,” he said.

Debate over the policy

Since the system began operating in September 2025, a total of 561 people have been returned to France after arriving in the UK on small boats, according to official figures released up to 24 April. In exchange, 551 people in northern France have been allowed to enter the UK legally.

The figures were published shortly after a separate spike in Channel crossings, when 602 asylum seekers reached the UK by small boat on 18 April alone.

Critics say the case highlights concerns that people returned to France could ultimately be deported to countries where they face danger.

Immigration solicitor Sonia Lenegan said the situation illustrated the risks associated with the agreement.

“Most people who make the journey across the Channel are refugees,” she said. “Returning people to France puts them at real risk of being sent back to countries where they face persecution.”

Campaigners have also targeted companies involved in removal flights. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said more than 6,500 people had written to airlines urging them to stop participating in the deportations.

Government response

A spokesperson for the UK Home Office said the agreement with France had led to the removal of more than 600 people who entered Britain illegally.

Officials added that nearly 60,000 people had been returned since July 2025, representing a 31% increase compared with the previous 19-month period.

Home Office sources said Syrian asylum seekers whose applications are rejected could be returned to Syria if conditions allowed, though no one would be deported if they faced a risk of persecution or serious harm.

France’s interior ministry has been approached for comment.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 May 2026

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