Mahmood’s flagship one in, one out migrant deal with France put in jeopardy by High Court challenge

The High Court hears Ms Mahmood’s decision to block modern slavery appeals is unlawful and breaches human rights laws
Shabana Mahmood ’s flagship one in, one out migrant deal with France has been thrown into jeopardy by a High Court challenge claiming some deportations are unlawful.

Six migrants, who claim they are victims of human trafficking, are challenging the lawfulness of how they were treated, with at least three already deported to France under Labour’s flagship scheme.

Sam Grodzinski KC, barrister for the claimants, told the High Court that Ms Mahmood’s decision to block modern slavery appeals was unlawful and breached human rights laws.

He told Justice Sheldon that a lawful system in the UK is one that “identifies the paramount importance of identifying victims [of trafficking] correctly”.

Mr Grodzinski said that the new policy amounted to an “institutional disregard of potentially relevant evidence”.

He said that it was inconsistent with the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking (ECAT).

Mr Grodzinski told the court: “Individuals have a fundamental right under ECAT to have their claims properly investigated.”
He said that government data showed that in 2025, nearly four in five requests for reconsiderations of initial modern slavery decisions were overturned in favour of the claimant.

The court heard that all six claimants had arrived in the UK on small boats in 2025, and some were removed to France under the “one in, one out” scheme.

Another, known as EXR, had his removal to France stopped by a court injunction and was released from detention.

It added that there are provisions to support victims of trafficking in France.

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