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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? |
| (21 days 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: | 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 have arrived in the first nine months | |
| "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. | Of this year's Albanian migrants, about 10,000 were single, adult men. |
| This represents around 1% of Albania's working age men, according to population figures from Eurostat. | This represents around 1% of Albania's working age men, according to population figures from Eurostat. |
| 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. | |
| Only 50 of them (0.7%) have received an initial decision on their application and none of them were granted refugee status or another type of leave to remain. | |
| In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. | In general, 53% of claims by Albanians are accepted. |
| Last year, 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. |
| Albanians can enter the UK with a visa. Eligible citizens can apply for visas of varying length for tourism, business, study and other activities. | Albanians can enter the UK with a visa. Eligible citizens can apply for visas of varying length for tourism, business, study and other activities. |
| Between July 2021 and June 2022, the UK received 30,703 visa applications from Albanian citizens and granted 20,289 of them, according to Home Office figures- only 361 of them were work visas. | Between July 2021 and June 2022, the UK received 30,703 visa applications from Albanian citizens and granted 20,289 of them, according to Home Office figures- only 361 of them were work visas. |
| Migrants crossing the Channel on small boats brought ashore at Dover | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The NCA says Albanian suspects arrested for cannabis growing are falsely claiming to be victims of trafficking. They are using standard letters to apply for help from the National Referral Mechanism for people forced to come to Britain. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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." |