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UK officials have rejected rumors that a deportation deal with France is in chaos, after plans to send back people reaching the UK by small boats were canceled for a second time.

When asked by reporters whether the latest delay meant the controversial “one in one out” agreement was “chaotic,” a official for the prime minister said, “Absolutely not.”

This statement came after return trips scheduled for Monday and Tuesday to return failed asylum seekers to Paris were dropped. It is understood that more departures have been booked for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a government source stating that the initial deportation is anticipated to take off in the coming days.

Under the “exchange-based” pilot scheme, UK authorities are expected to apprehend some of those who arrive illegally and return them to France, in exchange accepting an refugee applicant in France who can prove they have close ties in Britain.

The agreement was revealed in recent months by the British leader and his French counterpart. At a shared media briefing, the prime minister emphasized: “We don’t have a quick fix here, but with a joint commitment, fresh strategies, and a stronger resolve, we can ultimately make progress.”

Adding to the complexity, French interior ministry officials have reportedly warned that the agreement could be scrapped if it is not operating smoothly.

French officials clarified that it would receive only a handful of migrants initially, highlighting the “strictly trial nature of this deal.”

An official within the interior ministry informed the press: “We may terminate the agreement if we consider it acceptable.”

Reports suggest that the Home Office is confronting a variety of challenges related to the vulnerability of many of the individuals detained in advance of deportation, including those who are survivors of severe hardship.

At the start of the week, a pair of departures were planned to carry a small number of asylum seekers to Paris, but both were called off at the eleventh hour.

Believed that several people scheduled for removal had submitted unsuccessful legal challenges against return, but were not deported due to issues voiced by French authorities that the British officials had not supplied adequate notice of the special needs of a number of detainees, such as people with traumatic backgrounds.

According to the agreement formalized between the UK and France last month, the UK is required to notify France through written notice “confirming whether the person to be transferred could be in need of medical assistance or care.”

Media outlets is aware of an instance in which a petition filed by an migrant who was scheduled for removal on Monday was rejected. He was placed in a isolated section of the immigration center but was returned to his accommodation in the early morning of Monday and told that he would not be flying as planned.

Human rights organizations have reported multiple individuals who had given flight details for Monday, a detainee with removal directions for Tuesday, and two individuals with scheduled returns for Wednesday. Advocates say it is unclear why the individual with scheduled flight for Tuesday had their ticket cancelled.

French officials have indicated it will take in only a limited number of deportations of around 50 people, while the UK has stated it hopes to increase numbers over the course of the scheme in an bid to halt illegal Channel journeys in the Channel.

The acting director of Detention Action stated: “The arrangement with France is failing people fleeing persecution at every step. Adults and children are fleeing Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, and other regions, asking for refuge, only to be locked in cramped spaces and not given the help they urgently need. The government’s immigration lead must rethink this approach.”

Approximately 31,026 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, making 2025 on course to be a historic high for small boat journeys.