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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? |
| (25 days later) | |
| On 12 January, the UK deported 43 people to Albania. Six of them had arrived in the UK by small boat, according to the Home Office. | On 12 January, the UK deported 43 people to Albania. Six of them had arrived in the UK by small boat, according to the Home Office. |
| In December, the prime minister announced new measures to deal with the large numbers of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK and claiming asylum. | In December, the prime minister announced new measures to deal with the large numbers of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK and claiming asylum. |
| They include putting UK border officials in Albania, which Rishi Sunak called a "safe, prosperous European country". | They include putting UK border officials in Albania, which Rishi Sunak called a "safe, prosperous European 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: | 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, 11,241 arrived in the first nine months | In 2022, 11,241 arrived in the first nine months |
| On 13 December, Mr Sunak said nearly 13,000 Albanians had arrived in the UK in 2022 - a third of all those who had come in small boats. | On 13 December, Mr Sunak said nearly 13,000 Albanians had arrived in the UK in 2022 - a third of all those who had come in small boats. |
| Many are single, adult men - the numbers represent around 1% of Albania's working age men, according to figures from Eurostat. | Many are single, adult men - the numbers represent around 1% of Albania's working age men, according to figures from Eurostat. |
| "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. | "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. |
| How many Albanian migrants are granted asylum? | How many Albanian migrants are granted asylum? |
| In the 12 months to September 2022, 85% of Albanians who arrived by small boats - 7,219 people - submitted asylum applications. | In the 12 months to September 2022, 85% of Albanians who arrived by small boats - 7,219 people - submitted asylum applications. |
| Only 50 of them (0.7%) have received an initial decision and none were granted refugee status or another type of leave to remain. | Only 50 of them (0.7%) have received an initial decision and none were granted refugee status or another type of leave to remain. |
| In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. Most are by women and children. | In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. Most are by women and children. |
| The National Crime Agency (NCA) has said some Albanian migrants falsely claim to be victims of trafficking, using standard letters to apply for help. Albanians are the most commonly referred nationality for trafficking support in the UK. | The National Crime Agency (NCA) has said some Albanian migrants falsely claim to be victims of trafficking, using standard letters to apply for help. Albanians are the most commonly referred nationality for trafficking support in the UK. |
| In the first half of 2022, 591 Albanians who arrived by small boats were referred, according to figures obtained by campaign group Migration Watch under Freedom of Information laws. | In the first half of 2022, 591 Albanians who arrived by small boats were referred, according to figures obtained by campaign group Migration Watch under Freedom of Information laws. |
| Other Albanian migrants disappear and work illegally in the UK, before returning home, according to Mr O'Mahoney. | Other Albanian migrants disappear and work illegally in the UK, before returning home, according to Mr O'Mahoney. |
| Albanians can apply to enter the UK with a visa for tourism, business or study. | Albanians can apply to enter the UK with a visa for tourism, business or study. |
| In the first nine months of 2022, the UK received 24,102 visa applications from Albanian citizens and granted 16,084 of them, according to Home Office figures - but only 325 of them were work visas. | In the first nine months of 2022, the UK received 24,102 visa applications from Albanian citizens and granted 16,084 of them, according to Home Office figures - but only 325 of them were work visas. |
| Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats brought ashore at Dover | Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats brought ashore at Dover |
| How does the UK compare with the rest of Europe? | How does the UK compare with the rest of Europe? |
| In the first nine months of 2022, France processed more asylum applications from Albanians than the UK but rejected most of them. | In the first nine months of 2022, France processed more asylum applications from Albanians than the UK but rejected most of them. |
| Germany and Greece were next, followed by the UK, which granted asylum at a significantly higher rate than the others except for the Republic of Ireland. | Germany and Greece were next, followed by the UK, which granted asylum at a significantly higher rate than the others except for the Republic of Ireland. |
| One migration expert pointed out that some countries have been faster at making asylum decisions than the UK, pointing out: "in Q3 [July to September] this year, France made over 31,000 initial decisions. That's the same total as the last 7 quarters in the UK." | One migration expert pointed out that some countries have been faster at making asylum decisions than the UK, pointing out: "in Q3 [July to September] this year, France made over 31,000 initial decisions. That's the same total as the last 7 quarters in the UK." |
| EU countries appear to have been finding it difficult to return unsuccessful asylum-seekers to their countries of origin, although there are no comparable statistics for this. | EU countries appear to have been finding it difficult to return unsuccessful asylum-seekers to their countries of origin, although there are no comparable statistics for this. |
| How many Albanians does the UK return? | How many Albanians does the UK return? |
| In the 12 months to end of June 2022, a total of 888 Albanians were returned from the UK. | In the 12 months to end of June 2022, a total of 888 Albanians were returned from the UK. |
| Albanians represented the highest number of foreign offenders sent back in the year to September 2022. | Albanians represented the highest number of foreign offenders sent back in the year to September 2022. |
| On 12 January 2023, the UK deported 43 people to Albania - 27 had committed criminal offences according to the Home Office. | On 12 January 2023, the UK deported 43 people to Albania - 27 had committed criminal offences according to the Home Office. |
| Mr Sunak wants to increase the numbers returned to Albania by: | Mr Sunak wants to increase the numbers returned to Albania by: |
| Setting up a new unit staffed by 400 specialists to process Albanian cases "within weeks" | Setting up a new unit staffed by 400 specialists to process Albanian cases "within weeks" |
| Raising the threshold someone has to meet to be considered a victim of "modern slavery" | Raising the threshold someone has to meet to be considered a victim of "modern slavery" |
| New guidance for case workers that Albania is a "safe country" | New guidance for case workers that Albania is a "safe country" |
| Sending UK border officials to the airport in Tirana, the capital of Albania | Sending UK border officials to the airport in Tirana, the capital of Albania |
| What makes migrants leave Albania? | What makes migrants leave Albania? |
| On 7 December 2022, Qirjako Qirko - the Albanian ambassador to the UK - told MPs that some Albanian migrants come to the UK to seek out business opportunities. He also claimed that some "pretended" to be victims of modern slavery. | On 7 December 2022, Qirjako Qirko - the Albanian ambassador to the UK - told MPs that some Albanian migrants come to the UK to seek out business opportunities. He also claimed that some "pretended" to be victims of modern slavery. |
| Speaking before the same committee of MPs, Balkans expert Andi Hoxhaj estimated that around 40% of people leave Albania for "economic opportunities". | Speaking before the same committee of MPs, Balkans expert Andi Hoxhaj estimated that around 40% of people leave Albania for "economic opportunities". |
| 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. |
| Albanian's youth unemployment (people aged 15-29) is 20%. | Albanian's youth unemployment (people aged 15-29) is 20%. |
| 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. |
| The NCA says these gangs are responsible for importing industrial-scale cannabis farming to the UK and are also leading players in the UK's £5bn cocaine market. | The NCA says these gangs are responsible for importing industrial-scale cannabis farming to the UK and are also leading players in the UK's £5bn cocaine market. |
| 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. |
| Channel crossings: Albanian migrants recruited to the UK by gangs | Channel crossings: Albanian migrants recruited to the UK by gangs |
| 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. |
| In 2021, 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. | In 2021, 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." |
| Related Topics | |
| Albania | |
| Migration |