UK-France migration deal: Nearly 100 children detained as adults 2026

The UK-France migration deal has come under fire after nearly 100 children were wrongly detained as adults, according to new figures. The revelation has sparked concerns about child safeguarding and the effectiveness of age assessment procedures.

What is the UK-France Migration Deal?

The "one in, one out" initiative, launched in August 2025, allows the UK to send some people who arrive by small boat back to France while agreeing to take the same number of people from France if they are judged to have a legitimate claim. The deal was designed to manage migration flows, but it has now been criticised for placing vulnerable individuals, including children, in detention.

Shocking Statistics: Children Detained as Adults

According to a letter from Jane Leech, interim chair of independent monitoring boards (IMBs), 304 age disputes arose between 15 August 2025 and 1 May 2026. Of these, 94 (31%) were ultimately assessed to be children. This means that nearly one in three age-disputed cases involved minors who were initially treated as adults, in direct violation of the policy that children should be excluded from the scheme.

Concerns Raised by Independent Monitoring Boards

The IMB letter, sent to Home Office minister Anna Turley, highlights several critical failures. Leech stated that the deal was "placing highly vulnerable, newly arrived individuals, including children and survivors of abuse, in detention." She also noted that child safeguarding mechanisms are ineffective and that more should be done to prevent age-disputed individuals from being detained in the first place.

Length of Detention

Some individuals were held for more than six months, despite the policy that detention should last only up to 28 days in exceptional cases. This prolonged detention exacerbates the trauma experienced by migrants, especially children.

Health and Family Separation

People with tuberculosis or requiring hospital treatment were being prepared for removal to France. Additionally, some were separated from family members they had travelled with, which Leech described as having a "particularly damaging impact."

Key Takeaways

• 94 out of 304 age-disputed cases (31%) were found to be children.
• Children are supposed to be excluded from the scheme, yet they are being detained.
• Detention periods have exceeded six months, far beyond the 28-day limit.
• Health concerns and family separation are being ignored.
• Independent monitoring boards are calling for immediate reforms.

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