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| UK immigration: No clear case for routinely accepting Albania asylum claims - MPs | UK immigration: No clear case for routinely accepting Albania asylum claims - MPs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| People fleeing Albania to come to the UK should not routinely be granted asylum - because it is a safe country, a committee of MPs says. | People fleeing Albania to come to the UK should not routinely be granted asylum - because it is a safe country, a committee of MPs says. |
| The Home Affairs Select Committee noted a spike in Albanian arrivals last year, but found little evidence to suggest its citizens were at risk. | The Home Affairs Select Committee noted a spike in Albanian arrivals last year, but found little evidence to suggest its citizens were at risk. |
| However, it said some Albanians making asylum claims, particularly women, had been trafficked and needed protection. | However, it said some Albanians making asylum claims, particularly women, had been trafficked and needed protection. |
| The government said it was working with Albania to stop illegal migration. | The government said it was working with Albania to stop illegal migration. |
| In a report published on Monday, the cross-party committee stressed that Albanian migrants to the UK were unlikely to require asylum. | In a report published on Monday, the cross-party committee stressed that Albanian migrants to the UK were unlikely to require asylum. |
| It highlighted figures showing that in 2022, more than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats came from Albania - "and most claimed asylum". | It highlighted figures showing that in 2022, more than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats came from Albania - "and most claimed asylum". |
| It added the number of Albanians arriving in the UK by this route had gone from 800 in 2021, to 12,301 in 2022. | It added the number of Albanians arriving in the UK by this route had gone from 800 in 2021, to 12,301 in 2022. |
| "Albania is a safe country," the MPs said. "It is not at war and is a candidate country to join the European Union. | "Albania is a safe country," the MPs said. "It is not at war and is a candidate country to join the European Union. |
| "There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens, the committee finds." | "There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens, the committee finds." |
| Are fewer Albanian migrants coming to the UK? | Are fewer Albanian migrants coming to the UK? |
| It suggested that driving factors for people coming to the UK from Albania largely included better job opportunities and higher wages. | It suggested that driving factors for people coming to the UK from Albania largely included better job opportunities and higher wages. |
| Figures in the report also showed that from January to June 2022, 51% of Albanian cases were initially accepted - the majority of these claimants arrived on ferries or planes rather than small boats. | |
| The committee said nine countries, including Germany, had accepted no asylum claims from Albania during that period. | The committee said nine countries, including Germany, had accepted no asylum claims from Albania during that period. |
| It called on the Home Office to explain why the UK's acceptance rate was so high - particularly compared to other countries. | It called on the Home Office to explain why the UK's acceptance rate was so high - particularly compared to other countries. |
| But the MPs also flagged there were "unquestionably cases of Albanian citizens being trafficked to the UK". | But the MPs also flagged there were "unquestionably cases of Albanian citizens being trafficked to the UK". |
| It said more needed to be done to support the Albanian victims of people smuggling - especially women. | It said more needed to be done to support the Albanian victims of people smuggling - especially women. |
| Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, the committee's chairwoman, said there had been a "substantial sudden increase in asylum claims from a seemingly peaceful country". | Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, the committee's chairwoman, said there had been a "substantial sudden increase in asylum claims from a seemingly peaceful country". |
| She said: "While it is important that questions are asked and lessons are learnt, it is clear that the immigration picture is not static and will continue to evolve." | She said: "While it is important that questions are asked and lessons are learnt, it is clear that the immigration picture is not static and will continue to evolve." |
| The MPs recommended the government promote seasonal work visas in agriculture and construction to give more Albanians the opportunity to come to the UK without making unauthorised Channel crossings. | The MPs recommended the government promote seasonal work visas in agriculture and construction to give more Albanians the opportunity to come to the UK without making unauthorised Channel crossings. |
| It also said appropriate safeguards must be put in place before any victims of trafficking were returned to Albania, and recommended the UK maintain strong links with the country's government. | It also said appropriate safeguards must be put in place before any victims of trafficking were returned to Albania, and recommended the UK maintain strong links with the country's government. |
| Dame Diana said: "Changes in migration will inevitably place strain on any system, but the government must do much more to ensure it can better handle these stresses." | Dame Diana said: "Changes in migration will inevitably place strain on any system, but the government must do much more to ensure it can better handle these stresses." |
| She also said it was important the "UK improves its overall approach to asylum". | She also said it was important the "UK improves its overall approach to asylum". |
| Last week in Kent, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his plan to tackle migration is progressing, but there is "work to do". | Last week in Kent, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his plan to tackle migration is progressing, but there is "work to do". |
| He said a deal with Albania to return migrants had led to 1,800 people being sent back, and that was having a deterrent effect. | He said a deal with Albania to return migrants had led to 1,800 people being sent back, and that was having a deterrent effect. |
| A Home Office spokesperson said "this government's priority is stopping the boats". | A Home Office spokesperson said "this government's priority is stopping the boats". |
| It went on: "Last year, 28% of those who arrived by small boat to the UK were from Albania - a safe European country and Nato ally - placing further strain on our asylum system. | It went on: "Last year, 28% of those who arrived by small boat to the UK were from Albania - a safe European country and Nato ally - placing further strain on our asylum system. |
| "We've worked closely with the Albanian government to disrupt criminal gangs and deter illegal migration. In the five months to the end of May, Albanian small boat arrivals are down 90% on last year and we have returned 1,800 illegal migrants and foreign criminals back to Albania. Thanks to changes to our asylum system, we have gone from accepting 1 in 5 Albanian asylum claims to just 1 in 50, in line with other European countries. | "We've worked closely with the Albanian government to disrupt criminal gangs and deter illegal migration. In the five months to the end of May, Albanian small boat arrivals are down 90% on last year and we have returned 1,800 illegal migrants and foreign criminals back to Albania. Thanks to changes to our asylum system, we have gone from accepting 1 in 5 Albanian asylum claims to just 1 in 50, in line with other European countries. |
| "We will carefully consider the report and respond in due course." | "We will carefully consider the report and respond in due course." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| UK immigration | UK immigration |
| English Channel | English Channel |
| Immigration | Immigration |
| Albania | Albania |
| Migration | Migration |