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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. The government says its deal with Albania in December has reduced the number of Albanian migrants arriving in small boats.
In December, the prime minister announced new measures to deal with the large numbers of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK and claiming asylum. "I've also negotiated a new deal with Albania, which accounted for a third of all small boats arrivals, and that's already delivering," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at a news conference on 7 March.
They include putting UK border officials in Albania, which Rishi Sunak called a "safe, prosperous European country". "We've returned 500 illegal migrants to Albania and we are seeing far fewer come as a result."
In 2022, more people arrived in small boats from Albania - which Mr Sunak has called a "safe, prosperous European country" - than from any other 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 boatsIn 2020, 50 arrived on small boats
In 2021, 800 made the crossingIn 2021, 800 made the crossing
In 2022, 11,241 arrived in the first nine months In 2022, 12,301 arrived
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. The figure for 2022 accounted for 28% of arrivals in small boats, which is somewhat less than the one third suggested by the prime minister.
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.
Has the number arriving been falling?
Of the Albanian migrants who arrived in small boats in 2022, 95% arrived between May and October.
The numbers were much lower in November, when 166 arrived and December, when 28 arrived.
But that significant fall cannot be entirely due to the cooperation agreement between the UK and Albania because it was not signed until 13 December.
No figures for arrivals broken down by nationality have yet been published for 2023. We have asked the Home Office for the figures to support the prime minister's claim but were told they would not be available until they are published in May.
How many Albanians does the UK return?
In the 12 months to end of September 2022, a total of 900 Albanians were removed from the UK, with another 469 returning voluntarily. Those are the most recent figures that have been published.
Albanians represented the highest number of foreign offenders sent back in the year to September 2022.
The Home Office says that since the announcement on 13 December, more than 500 illegal migrants have been returned to Albania, but those figures will not be published until August.
More than 500 enforced removals in just under three months would be a lot. We haven't seen anything close to that for a single quarter since the 461 removals between October and December 2016, although of course there has been an unusually large number of arrivals in the past year.
We also know that on 12 January 2023, the UK deported 43 people to Albania - 27 of whom had committed criminal offences according to the Home Office.
The cooperation agreement signed with Albania in December:
Set up a joint task force to deter and disrupt illegal migration
The UK agreed to assist with services to support those returning to Albania
The countries will share information to reduce illegal migration and combat human trafficking
Mr Sunak also announced he wanted to increase the numbers returned to Albania by:
Setting up a new unit staffed by 400 specialists to process Albanian cases
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"
Sending UK border officials to the airport in Tirana, the capital of Albania
Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats brought ashore at Dover
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 2022, 85% of Albanians who arrived by small boats 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 68 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.
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 2022, 13% of Albanians - 1,719 people - who arrived in small boats were referred to the National Referral Mechanism for modern slavery. That's a higher number than for any other country.
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 2022, the UK received 31,965 visitor visa applications from Albanian citizens and granted 22,359 of them, according to Home Office figures.
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 2022] 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?
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.
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:
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"
New guidance for case workers that Albania is a "safe country"
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, 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.
Albanian's youth unemployment (people aged 15-29) is 20%.
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.
A view of Tirana, the capital of Albania
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."
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.
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
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.
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.
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."
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