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An Eritrea-born individual has secured a last-minute legal block temporarily halting his removal to France pursuant to the disputed 'one in, one out' scheme.

The 25-year-old, who arrived in the United Kingdom through a small boat on the twelfth of August, had been set to be sent back on Wednesday under the deportation experimental scheme negotiated during summer by the British and French governments.

In the first court case against the deal, presided over at the London judiciary, his lawyers claimed that he needed further opportunity to submit documentation suggesting he was potentially a victim of modern slavery – and that the determination to deport him had been rushed.

Representatives for the Home Office asserted that he could have applied for protection in the French territory and presented no evidence as to why it was an unsuitable secure nation for him.

The government’s side additionally stated that postponing his removal could encourage fellow migrants designated to upcoming repatriation trips to come forward with identical arguments, thereby compromising the national objective of deterring lethal Channel journeys.

But over the course of the case, it was revealed that even though the Home Secretary’s own caseworkers had dismissed his slavery allegation, they had nonetheless stated in a same-day communication that he had the option to submit more representations – and that they would not anticipate him to complete that process from France.

This revelation prompted the court to grant a short-term halt on the individual’s deportation, notwithstanding denying his claim that he would be left without shelter in the French territory.

"There is a substantial question to be tried in relation to the trafficking allegation and whether the Secretary of State has carried out her duty-of-care obligations in a legal manner," remarked.

He also noted that should there was a credible indication that the man had been exploited – a situation that did not exclusively involve French territory – it would amount to a formal bar to deportation for at least a limited duration.

The court order brings up important issues about if additional migrants scheduled for deportation trips may leverage similar grounds to challenge or prevent their transfer away from the United Kingdom – or if they are being subjected to inadequate assessments.

This man, who cannot be publicly disclosed for confidentiality purposes, according to documents left Ethiopia previously and arrived Italy in April 2025.

Several weeks afterward, he relocated to French soil, where he was assisted by charities such as the relief agencies, before his relative according to claims transferred $1,400 (approximately £1,024) to illegal operators for his sea passage to the United Kingdom.

During the court case, it was revealed that he informed authorities during his first assessment that he had not been exploited and had been paid when he labored as a manual worker in North Africa.

Upon being inquired why he had did not request asylum before coming the United Kingdom, the individual stated that he had seen people sleeping on the public spaces in Europe and had concluded that there was no welfare offered.

Official representatives contended that he should have sought asylum in France because he was no longer under the influence of illegal groups.

Yet, his legal representative, stating on his behalf, said that the government had not yet fully assessed whether her the individual was a target of trafficking – and that there had been insufficient evaluation of whether returning him to France would cause him destitute.

About the 'One In, One Out' Scheme

The reciprocal arrangement program was introduced in July by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s head of state.

Pursuant to the agreement, France consented to accept migrants who had traveled to the United Kingdom by Channel vessel and had their asylum claims withdrawn.

In reciprocity, the British authorities would accept someone with a qualifying claim for refugee status who had never tried to travel via the waterway.

So far, no individual has been deported under the scheme. The initial repatriations to France had been planned to commence this week.

During the last several days, certain individuals being held in immigration removal centres were issued notifications stating that they would be assigned on a regular flight leaving from London Heathrow for the French capital at early today.

Yet, several sources indicated that certain of the potential individuals had been notified that their return would be delayed as more submissions concerning their situations were being made.

When pressured by reporters – ahead of the High Court outcome – if the scheme was a "shambles", a official representative stated "not at all".

They further stated that the authorities was "assured" in the legal foundation for the experimental initiative, and that they had "implemented steps to guarantee it's in line with domestic and global law; like any policy, we're equipped to respond