UK's Pilot Scheme Targets Illegal Channel Migrants for Return

London, Aug 7 (AP) British border authorities have taken the initial steps in a new pilot scheme aimed at addressing illegal immigration. The first group of migrants, who crossed the English Channel in small boats, has been detained under this plan, which intends to return such migrants to France.

The migrants were apprehended on Wednesday, coinciding with the day the plan was implemented, and are currently held at immigration removal centers pending deportation to France, according to the Home Office.

“This action sends a clear message to migrants considering paying organized crime gangs for passage to the UK: by attempting to cross the channel in small boats, they are endangering their lives and wasting their money,” stated Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The initiative follows an agreement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron last month, amid ongoing criticism of the UK government's border control measures.

Although the pilot covers a limited number of individuals, UK officials regard it as a significant development, as it establishes a precedent for returning migrants who enter Britain illegally back to France.

However, critics argue the program's impact is minimal, given the small number of migrants returned to France. They also point out that treaty loopholes might enable many illegal entrants to remain in the UK while pursuing human rights claims.

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