The ‘one in,one out’ deal is designed to discourage migrants from making the Channel crossing by making them think it will be harder to stay.
The Home Office is set to launch a new campaign to warn migrants in northern France and elsewhere of the new deal.
However,the agreement has been met with criticism from the opposition and campaigners.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp argued: ‘Returning just 50 illegal immigrants a week,and probably less,will make no difference whatsoever. This amounts to just 6 per cent of illegal arrivals.
‘Allowing 94 per cent to stay in the UK will be no deterrent at all. This is a gimmick which won’t work.’
The charity Freedom from Torture raised concerns over the deal’s impact on people’s wellbeing.
Natasha Tsangarides,the group’s Associate Director of Advocacy,said: ‘We know from our therapy rooms how profoundly harmful any time in detention is for people who’ve been through the unimaginable horrors of torture.
‘Many survivors were tortured in detention,so locking them up again reopens deep psychological scars and can set them back significantly on their road to recovery.’
By the end of July,more than 25,000 people had made the crossing over the English Channel in small,often not seaworthy boats.
Last year is said to be the deadliest on record for Channel crossings,according to the Refugee Council.
At least 69 people died trying to get to the UK,the charity said.
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