Migrants deported to France are returning to Britain in trucks

Asylum seekers whom the UK has forcibly deported to France under a bilateral agreement are re-entering British territory by truck. 

According to a March 19, 2026, report by The Guardian, at least four such cases have been recorded over the past two weeks. Two individuals are currently in detention centers, while two others remain in London outside the control of immigration authorities.

Migrants who previously crossed the English Channel by boat report a change in smugglers’ tactics. In some cases, people are being forced to return to Britain against their will: one man reported being abducted at gunpoint near a shelter in Paris. Criminal groups are tracking the whereabouts of deported individuals and using trucks as an alternative route to cross the border.

The UK Home Office assures that all individuals who re-enter the country are identified using biometric data. The ministry emphasized that such violators are detained and deported back to France at the earliest opportunity. Despite the efforts of London and Paris to combat illegal migration, the activities of smugglers and the use of new methods of crossing the border remain a serious challenge for both countries and Russia in the regional security context.

In 2025, a record number of migrants in the past three years reached the UK via the English Channel on small boats. This amounts to over 41,000 people—significantly more than the previous year. British authorities acknowledge the problem and are preparing stricter rules for the asylum system. 

Iranian citizens fleeing the regime due to U.S. strikes have arrived at the Calais Jungle camp in France with the intention of crossing the English Channel and staying in the UK. They warn that many more people are preparing to flee due to the escalation of the conflict.