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| UK to start talks on return hubs for failed asylum seekers | UK to start talks on return hubs for failed asylum seekers |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The UK is in talks with other countries to set up overseas "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers, Sir Keir Starmer has said on his first official visit to Albania. | The UK is in talks with other countries to set up overseas "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers, Sir Keir Starmer has said on his first official visit to Albania. |
| The prime minister said the government had begun discussions about sending asylum seekers abroad for processing after their claims had been rejected in the UK. | The prime minister said the government had begun discussions about sending asylum seekers abroad for processing after their claims had been rejected in the UK. |
| He would not comment on which countries were involved, or where failed asylum seekers could be sent, but Albania said it was not part of the talks. | |
| Sir Keir has travelled to Albania to announce separate measures to crack down on organised crime and illegal immigration. | Sir Keir has travelled to Albania to announce separate measures to crack down on organised crime and illegal immigration. |
| The number of people crossing the Channel has passed 12,000 since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year. | The number of people crossing the Channel has passed 12,000 since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year. |
| "We are in talks with a number of countries about return hubs," Sir Keir said at a news conference in Albania, alongside the country's Prime Minister Edi Rama. | "We are in talks with a number of countries about return hubs," Sir Keir said at a news conference in Albania, alongside the country's Prime Minister Edi Rama. |
| "I see them as a really important innovation." | "I see them as a really important innovation." |
| The BBC has previously reported that the proposals are focused on countries in the western Balkans – a region which includes Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. | The BBC has previously reported that the proposals are focused on countries in the western Balkans – a region which includes Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| The proposals would apply only to asylum seekers whose claims had been rejected and who had no further routes of appeal in the UK. | The proposals would apply only to asylum seekers whose claims had been rejected and who had no further routes of appeal in the UK. |
| It differs from the previous Conservative government's Rwanda scheme, which was scrapped by Sir Keir and involved sending migrants to have their asylum claims processed in the African country. | It differs from the previous Conservative government's Rwanda scheme, which was scrapped by Sir Keir and involved sending migrants to have their asylum claims processed in the African country. |
| Italy has a similar scheme, which involves sending failed asylum seekers to Albania while they await deportation, but that plan has been held up by legal action. | Italy has a similar scheme, which involves sending failed asylum seekers to Albania while they await deportation, but that plan has been held up by legal action. |
| Speaking at the news conference, Rama said the scheme was "a one-off with Italy because of our very special relationship". | |
| Rama said the Albanian government had been asked by several countries if it was open to establishing similar schemes. | |
| "We said no because we are loyal to our marriage with Italy," Rama said. | |
| Sir Keir said the return hubs "were consistent with the work" the UK had done with Albania on reducing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel. | |
| The government said there has been a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals in the past three years, and that the number of Albanians returned has doubled in the past two years. | |
| Immigration has been a strong focus of the government this week. | |
| On Monday, the government set out plans to reduce the level of legal migration in a White Paper. | |
| Sir Keir argued the proposals would bring the immigration system "back into control" and denied it was a response to the success of Reform UK in recent local elections. | |
| The party led by Nigel Farage is promising to freeze non-essential immigration an take small boats in the Channel back to France. | |
| In Albania, the prime minister announced further co-operation with Albania on tackling illegal migration and organised crime. | |
| Speaking in Albania, Sir Keir said: "The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders. | Speaking in Albania, Sir Keir said: "The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders. |
| "That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade." | "That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade." |
| He said greater co-operation with Albania had "driven down those numbers" and that he wanted to "see more of that". | He said greater co-operation with Albania had "driven down those numbers" and that he wanted to "see more of that". |
| The prime minister announced the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force - which shares intelligence and carries out operations against people smugglers in the Western Balkans - to include North Macedonia. | The prime minister announced the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force - which shares intelligence and carries out operations against people smugglers in the Western Balkans - to include North Macedonia. |
| The enhanced co-operation with Albania will include measures to tackle a "revolving door effect", of migrants returning home, evading law enforcement and leaving the country again, the government said. | The enhanced co-operation with Albania will include measures to tackle a "revolving door effect", of migrants returning home, evading law enforcement and leaving the country again, the government said. |
| The plans also includes: | The plans also includes: |
| A new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find employment | A new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find employment |
| Funding a new forensic evidence programme to share and track DNA of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UK | Funding a new forensic evidence programme to share and track DNA of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UK |
| A further £1m investment to upgrade Albania's forensics, biometrics and digital capability | A further £1m investment to upgrade Albania's forensics, biometrics and digital capability |
| Greater intelligence sharing to allow local law, using UK-funded drones, to "snare gangsters" transporting migrants through the Western Balkans corridor | Greater intelligence sharing to allow local law, using UK-funded drones, to "snare gangsters" transporting migrants through the Western Balkans corridor |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described Sir Keir's visit as "pure theatre". | Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described Sir Keir's visit as "pure theatre". |
| He said: "The returns deal with Albania was decisive action taken by the previous Conservative government." | He said: "The returns deal with Albania was decisive action taken by the previous Conservative government." |
| "So why is Starmer now flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit? If the scheme is already working, what exactly is this trip for?" he added. | "So why is Starmer now flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit? If the scheme is already working, what exactly is this trip for?" he added. |