Starmer Announces Migration ‘Return Hubs’ on Albania Visit, but Albania Doesn’t Want Them – What’s Going On?
- During his visit to Albania in May 2025, UK leader Keir Starmer unveiled plans to create overseas return centers for asylum seekers who have had their applications denied.
- The plan follows Starmer scrapping the previous Rwanda scheme and aims to manage illegal immigration by sending failed asylum seekers abroad, but Albania rejected hosting such hubs due to an existing Italy-Albania arrangement.
- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized Albania's loyalty to the 2023 Italy deal, which hosts two Italian processing centers, and publicly declined any UK proposal for return hubs.
- Starmer revealed that the UK has initiated official discussions with multiple nations about establishing return hubs aimed at facilitating efficient deportations and lowering expenses, cautioning that without immigration controls, the UK could become an "island of strangers."
- Albania's refusal highlights diplomatic and legal challenges for the UK’s migration strategy and suggests continued efforts to deepen cooperation with the Western Balkans on migration and security.
14 Articles
14 Articles
EXPOSED: Labour suffers fresh blow as shock document destroys bid to save face after Albania snub
EXPOSED: Labour suffers fresh blow as shock document destroys bid to save face after Albania immigration snub - Labour has been dealt a fresh blow as it scrambles to contain the fallout from Albania's snubbing of the return hubs immigration proposal
Starmer announces migration ‘return hubs’ on Albania visit, but Albania doesn’t want them – what’s going on?
Keir Starmer became the first British prime minister to visit Albania since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1921. During the visit, he announced that the UK plans to set up “return hubs” for asylum seekers whose claims are rejected by the UK. Just days after announcing his plans to reduce legal migration to the UK, this move on irregular migration is more evidence of the prime minister’s concern about losing voters to anti-…
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