UK, Albania to expedite removal of Channel migrants

LONDON (AA) – The UK has said that it will work with Albania to expedite the removal of Albanians entering the country illegally.

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Albania’s Interior Affairs Minister Bledi Cuci agreed to “intensify joint work to tackle the problem of large numbers of Albanians taking the treacherous journey to the UK across the Channel at the hands of people smugglers,” according to a British government statement.

The number of people reaching the UK by crossing the English Channel hit a new single-day record of nearly 1,300 this Monday.

According to British media reports, government officials believe around 60% of migrants now crossing the Channel daily are Albanian, although the numbers vary.

“Large numbers of Albanians are being sold lies by ruthless people smugglers and vicious organized crime gangs, leading them to take treacherous journeys in flimsy boats to the UK. This abuse of our immigration system and people risking their lives cannot go on,” said Patel.

“Thanks to our excellent levels of cooperation with Albania, we will take every opportunity to speed up removal of Albanians with no right to be in the UK.”

The statement said both countries will seek to expedite the removal of Albanians from next week, adding that the Albanian government has “offered senior law enforcement support to … provide UK authorities with vital intelligence and to support processing.”

It said “new hard-hitting Albanian language adverts,” which include warnings about possible relocation to Rwanda or another safe country, have been launched to deter migrants.

The British government unveiled a controversial proposal earlier this year to deport Channel migrants to Rwanda for processing of their asylum claims.

The plan is on hold due to an ongoing judicial review, but the government has said it is continuing preparations to implement the policy.