The 25-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, arrived in Britain on 12 August. He was due to be put on a flight to Paris on Wednesday under the “one in, one out” scheme agreed in July by Britain and France.
But on Tuesday, London’s High Court granted him an interim injunction after his lawyers argued he may be a victim of trafficking.
“There is a serious issue to be tried in relation to the trafficking claim and whether or not the Secretary of State has carried out her investigatory duties in a lawful manner,” said Judge Clive Sheldon.
The ruling delays what would have been the first return flight under the scheme, which aims to reduce irregular migration. More than 30,000 people have crossed the Channel in small-boat journeys so far this year – the fastest pace since records began in 2018.
The man’s lawyers told the court he needed more time to provide evidence of his claim. Court papers show he travelled through Ethiopia and Italy before reaching France, where his mother paid smugglers $1,400 to arrange his Channel crossing.
Home Office lawyers argued he could have claimed asylum in France. They warned that delaying his removal could encourage others to make similar challenges.
Court documents show the Home Office had already rejected his trafficking claim but confirmed in a letter on Tuesday that he has the right to make further representations. The judge ruled he should have 14 days to do so.
Credit: rfi
