UK Judge Halts Asylum Seeker Removal

A High Court judge in the United Kingdom, Mr. Justice Sheldon, on Wednesday halted the removal of a 31-year-old Eritrean trafficking victim to France under the UK's "one in, one out" asylum scheme. The decision, pending a final hearing, cited concerns that forced return could harm the individual's mental health due to potential difficulties accessing accommodation and healthcare in France.

The "one in, one out" scheme, launched last summer, aims to deter small boat crossings by returning one asylum seeker to France for every one legally brought to the UK. As of March 5, 370 individuals have been legally brought to the UK, while 354 have been sent back to France. Despite the scheme, approximately 1,200 people have crossed the Channel this month.

The Eritrean asylum seeker, confirmed by UK authorities as a trafficking victim with a PTSD diagnosis, argued that France does not provide adequate support for such cases. The judge found a "serious risk" of inadequate support and a "real doubt" regarding timely mental health access in France, concluding that the individual was "likely to suffer harm to his mental health if he is removed forcibly to France."