Migrants selected for deportation under the United Kingdom’s agreement with France have expressed distress after being placed in a detention centre instead of hotels, according to a recent inspection report. The report, authored by Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, detailed conditions at Tinsley House immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport, where many small-boat migrants awaited removal under the “one in, one out” returns deal.

Taylor’s findings highlighted significant anxiety among detainees, many of whom reportedly expected accommodation in hotels upon arrival at the centre. The report noted a lack of clear information available to migrants regarding their fate once returned to France, contributing to heightened stress and uncertainty. Some detainees became visibly upset while discussing their situations with inspectors, with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances frequently reported. One individual questioned inspectors about his future, citing the stress caused by the uncertainty.

The report also raised concerns about the Home Office’s procedures for identifying highly vulnerable detainees, describing the process as slow and insufficiently thorough. Taylor pointed out that more than half of the detainees held at Tinsley House were eventually released, prompting questions about the necessity of their initial detention and its associated costs to taxpayers.

Regarding daily life at the centre, the report observed that many detainees spent mornings asleep, potentially missing out on available activities. It suggested that the centre did not adequately encourage participation in such programs, which could have benefited those struggling with mental health issues.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently stated that the expense of returns under the deportation agreement had reached £56,000 per individual. She informed Members of Parliament that over 1,400 migrants have been deported under the scheme so far. Mahmood acknowledged that the one in, one out deal, set to expire next month, has processed relatively small numbers of migrants and has faced operational challenges in scaling removals into the French system at a higher volume.

The report and official comments underline ongoing challenges in managing migration flows and detainee welfare within the framework of UK-France deportation cooperation.