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| Albanian migrants: Why are they coming to the UK and how many have arrived? | Albanian migrants: Why are they coming to the UK and how many have arrived? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has highlighted the number of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK this year. | Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has highlighted the number of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK this year. |
| On some small boats, "80% of the individuals are coming from Albania", he told MPs. | On some small boats, "80% of the individuals are coming from Albania", he told MPs. |
| So how many have arrived and why are they leaving Albania, which Mr Jenrick called a "safe country". | So how many have arrived and why are they leaving Albania, which Mr Jenrick called a "safe country". |
| How many Albanian migrants come to the UK? | How many Albanian migrants come to the UK? |
| There has been a rapid increase in the number of Albanian migrants crossing the English Channel: | |
| In 2020, 50 arrived on small boats | In 2020, 50 arrived on small boats |
| In 2021, 800 made the crossing | In 2021, 800 made the crossing |
| In 2022, 12,000 have arrived so far | In 2022, 12,000 have arrived so far |
| "The rise has been exponential and we think that is in the main due to the fact that Albanian criminal gangs have gained a foothold in the north of France," Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O'Mahoney told the Home Affairs Select Committee last week. | "The rise has been exponential and we think that is in the main due to the fact that Albanian criminal gangs have gained a foothold in the north of France," Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O'Mahoney told the Home Affairs Select Committee last week. |
| Of this year's Albanian migrants, about 10,000 were single, adult men, he said. | Of this year's Albanian migrants, about 10,000 were single, adult men, he said. |
| How many Albanian migrants are granted asylum? | How many Albanian migrants are granted asylum? |
| In the year to June 2022, 7,267 asylum applications were submitted by Albanian migrants, double the number the previous year. | In the year to June 2022, 7,267 asylum applications were submitted by Albanian migrants, double the number the previous year. |
| In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. | In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. |
| About 14% of successful claims were by single, adult men. Most were by women and children. | About 14% of successful claims were by single, adult men. Most were by women and children. |
| Some Albanian migrants are believed to make asylum claims on the grounds they have been trafficked to the UK. | Some Albanian migrants are believed to make asylum claims on the grounds they have been trafficked to the UK. |
| Albanians are the most commonly referred nationality for trafficking support in the UK. | Albanians are the most commonly referred nationality for trafficking support in the UK. |
| Rather than claiming asylum, some Albanian migrants choose to disappear and work illegally in the UK, before returning to their home country, Mr O'Mahoney said. | Rather than claiming asylum, some Albanian migrants choose to disappear and work illegally in the UK, before returning to their home country, Mr O'Mahoney said. |
| Eligible Albanian citizens can apply for visas, of varying length, to enter the UK for tourism, business, study and other activities. | Eligible Albanian citizens can apply for visas, of varying length, to enter the UK for tourism, business, study and other activities. |
| Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats were brought ashore at Dover on Saturday | Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats were brought ashore at Dover on Saturday |
| How many Albanians are sent back? | How many Albanians are sent back? |
| In 2022, in the six months to June, 440 people were returned to Albania - almost all were single, adult men. | In 2022, in the six months to June, 440 people were returned to Albania - almost all were single, adult men. |
| Albanians represent the highest number of foreign offenders sent back in the year to March 2022. | Albanians represent the highest number of foreign offenders sent back in the year to March 2022. |
| A bilateral agreement signed in 2021 by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel aimed to speed up the removal of Albanian criminals and failed asylum seekers from the UK. | A bilateral agreement signed in 2021 by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel aimed to speed up the removal of Albanian criminals and failed asylum seekers from the UK. |
| "More than 1,000 Albanians, including some who crossed the Channel illegally to come to the UK" have been sent back under this agreement, the Home Office says . | "More than 1,000 Albanians, including some who crossed the Channel illegally to come to the UK" have been sent back under this agreement, the Home Office says . |
| The deal does not allow the government to remove Albanians with a current asylum case in the UK. | The deal does not allow the government to remove Albanians with a current asylum case in the UK. |
| What makes migrants leave Albania? | What makes migrants leave Albania? |
| Three decades after the collapse of Enver Hoxha's dictatorship and the opening of Albania's borders, about 60% of the country's adult population wanted to leave, according to a Gallup poll published in December 2018. | Three decades after the collapse of Enver Hoxha's dictatorship and the opening of Albania's borders, about 60% of the country's adult population wanted to leave, according to a Gallup poll published in December 2018. |
| They cited corruption, low salaries, poor working conditions and a low quality of life as their main reasons. | They cited corruption, low salaries, poor working conditions and a low quality of life as their main reasons. |
| The median net annual household income in Albania was just €1,997 (£1,720) in 2018, according to the latest available figures from Eurostat, while in the UK it was €21,464. | The median net annual household income in Albania was just €1,997 (£1,720) in 2018, according to the latest available figures from Eurostat, while in the UK it was €21,464. |
| Albania has applied for EU membership and negotiations for this opened in July 2022. | Albania has applied for EU membership and negotiations for this opened in July 2022. |
| Currently, Albanian citizens can enter the EU visa-free and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as tourists - but they do not have an automatic right to work, study or live there. | Currently, Albanian citizens can enter the EU visa-free and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as tourists - but they do not have an automatic right to work, study or live there. |
| A view of Tirana, the capital of Albania | A view of Tirana, the capital of Albania |
| What are the concerns about Albanian gangs? | What are the concerns about Albanian gangs? |
| Briefing MPs about Albanian migrants, Mr O'Mahoney said: "There are undoubtedly people who need our help - but there is also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system." | Briefing MPs about Albanian migrants, Mr O'Mahoney said: "There are undoubtedly people who need our help - but there is also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system." |
| He went on to highlight the role of Albanian criminal gangs in the UK. | He went on to highlight the role of Albanian criminal gangs in the UK. |
| A National Crime Agency (NCA) report published earlier this year said these gangs were responsible for importing industrial-scale cannabis farming to the UK. | A National Crime Agency (NCA) report published earlier this year said these gangs were responsible for importing industrial-scale cannabis farming to the UK. |
| Albanian gangs are also leading players in the UK's £5bn cocaine market, the NCA says. | Albanian gangs are also leading players in the UK's £5bn cocaine market, the NCA says. |
| In 2017, an Albanian national was imprisoned after running a cocaine-smuggling operation worth an estimated £60m. | In 2017, an Albanian national was imprisoned after running a cocaine-smuggling operation worth an estimated £60m. |
| There has been a rise in anonymous accounts on TikTok advertising transfers of people from Albania to the UK, according to a Balkan Insight report from August this year. | There has been a rise in anonymous accounts on TikTok advertising transfers of people from Albania to the UK, according to a Balkan Insight report from August this year. |
| The adverts offer to take people to the UK from France on boats or from Belgium in lorries, at a cost of £2,000-5,000 each. | The adverts offer to take people to the UK from France on boats or from Belgium in lorries, at a cost of £2,000-5,000 each. |
| Police operations have led to numerous arrests of Albanians suspected of people smuggling. | Police operations have led to numerous arrests of Albanians suspected of people smuggling. |
| Last year, the Home Office launched an extension of its Prevent programme to divert at-risk Albanian teenagers from joining gangs trafficking people and cocaine to the UK. | Last year, the Home Office launched an extension of its Prevent programme to divert at-risk Albanian teenagers from joining gangs trafficking people and cocaine to the UK. |
| Albanians make up one of the largest foreign-national groups in prisons across England and Wales. | Albanians make up one of the largest foreign-national groups in prisons across England and Wales. |
| Albanian prime minister Edi Rama has said in a tweet: "UK should fight the crime gangs of all nationalities and stop discriminating v Albanians to excuse policy failures." | Albanian prime minister Edi Rama has said in a tweet: "UK should fight the crime gangs of all nationalities and stop discriminating v Albanians to excuse policy failures." |