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UK officials have denied rumors that a migrant exchange with France is in chaos, despite plans to forcibly remove people crossing the Channel via small boats were canceled for a second consecutive day.

Questioned by the media whether the new setback meant the much-discussed “one in one out” arrangement was “a failure,” a official for the prime minister responded, “Absolutely not.”

This statement came after flights scheduled for earlier this week to send individuals denied refuge to Paris were dropped. Reports indicate that additional flights have been booked for the coming days, with a official confirming that the first flight is likely to proceed soon.

As part of the “reciprocal returns” pilot scheme, British officials are expected to detain some of those who arrive illegally and deport them to France, in return taking in an refugee applicant in France who can prove they have family connections in Britain.

The agreement was revealed in recent months by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. Speaking at a shared media briefing, the prime minister emphasized: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a joint commitment, fresh strategies, and a renewed determination, we can finally make progress.”

In a further development, French interior ministry officials have reportedly warned that the pilot could be abandoned if it is not functioning well.

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

A source within the interior ministry stated to media outlets: “It is possible that we will end the agreement if we do not find it effective.”

Sources indicate that the Home Office is dealing with a number of issues related to the fragile situation of many of the asylum seekers held in prior to return to France, many of whom are survivors of abuse and exploitation.

At the start of the week, multiple planes were planned to carry a handful of asylum seekers to Paris, but both were aborted at the last minute.

Believed that several people due to fly had filed unsuccessful legal challenges against return, but remained in the UK due to concerns voiced by officials in Paris that the UK side had not supplied sufficient warning of the vulnerabilities of a number of detainees, for example survivors of abuse.

Under the agreement formalized between the UK and France last month, the UK is required to notify France in a statement “stating that the person to be transferred could be in need of medical assistance or care.”

The Guardian is aware of an instance in which a petition lodged by an migrant who was scheduled for removal on Monday was rejected. This person was held in a isolated section of the detention centre but was moved back to his cell in the middle of the night of Monday and told that he was not being deported as planned.

Advocacy groups have highlighted multiple individuals who had received removal directions for Monday, one individual with removal directions for Tuesday, and a pair of migrants with scheduled returns for Wednesday. Advocates say it is not known why the individual with scheduled flight for Tuesday had their ticket called off.

The government in Paris has reportedly said it will accept only a handful of transfers of around 50 people, while the UK has stated it hopes to scale up over the duration of the agreement in an bid to halt illegal Channel journeys in the Channel.

A representative of the organization commented: “The arrangement with France is disappointing people in need of protection at every step. Adults and children are arriving from Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, and elsewhere, hoping for safety, only to be confined to cramped spaces and not given the help they urgently need. The recently appointed minister must alter strategy.”

An estimated 31,026 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, making 2025 on course to be a historic high for migrant arrivals.