Mahmood Pledges Reform of Modern Slavery Laws After Court Blocks Deportation Appeal

Published: 24 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to reform modern slavery laws following a setback in her attempt to appeal a high court decision that temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean asylum seeker to France. The court of appeal’s ruling against Mahmood has highlighted tensions over the application of the UK’s “one in, one out” immigration scheme and the treatment of trafficking claims.

The Eritrean man, who arrived in the UK on 12 August via a small boat crossing, was slated for removal to France under the scheme, which allows the UK to return migrants who cross the Channel illegally in exchange for receiving an equal number of individuals with valid asylum claims. However, a high court ruling temporarily delayed his deportation to allow him 14 days to gather further evidence in support of his trafficking claim. Mahmood had sought permission to appeal this decision, arguing that such last-minute legal interventions were obstructing border control measures. Three judges in the court of appeal, however, rejected her application, marking a significant challenge to her efforts.

“Last minute attempts to frustrate a removal are intolerable, and I will fight them at every step,” Mahmood said following the ruling. “We have taken immediate steps to tackle this issue by amending policy on 17 September. I have also commissioned work to consider wider reforms and what more can be done to prevent misuse of the modern slavery system. I will robustly defend the British public’s priorities in any court, and I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.”

During the court proceedings, lawyers representing the Eritrean man argued that he was entitled under UK trafficking regulations to more time to substantiate his claim before being removed. While the appeal judges acknowledged the urgency of the home secretary’s position, they concluded that the high court judge had made no error of law or principle, ruling that Mahmood’s grounds for appeal lacked a realistic prospect of success. The ruling was delivered by Lord Justice Arnold, Lord Justice Lewis, and Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing.

Government representatives had stressed the urgency of implementing the “one in, one out” scheme to disrupt people-smuggling networks and prevent dangerous Channel crossings, particularly as colder winter temperatures make the journeys increasingly hazardous. Kate Grange KC, representing Mahmood, told the court: “Winter is coming. Over the next few weeks temperatures will drop and journeys will become more hazardous. We submit that the public interest in preventing and deterring these journeys could not be more serious or acute.”

The court’s refusal to grant permission to appeal does not undermine the broader framework of the “one in, one out” scheme, but it represents a notable legal challenge for the home secretary’s efforts to accelerate deportations under the policy. To date, only three individuals have been returned to France under the arrangement, while arrivals from France under the scheme have been delayed.

Mahmood indicated that, despite the setback, she intends to pursue changes to legislation to prevent migrants from exploiting modern slavery protections to delay removal. These reforms could involve tighter safeguards around last-minute claims and measures aimed at balancing the protection of trafficking victims with the government’s border security priorities.

The case underscores the complex intersection of immigration policy, legal protections for trafficking victims, and public safety considerations, highlighting the challenges faced by the UK government in enforcing its immigration policies while ensuring compliance with domestic and international law.