The British government has announced plans to quickly deport Albanian migrants not seeking asylum as migration flows out of the Balkan country soar despite London’s hopes for a controversial plan to expel migrants from Rwanda.

“A large number of Albanians are being lied to by unscrupulous human traffickers and organized crime groups, forcing them to make dangerous rickshaw rides to reach the UK,” UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said after meeting with her Albanian counterpart Blendy Kuchi. “Thanks to our excellent level of cooperation with Albania, we will use every opportunity to expedite the eviction of Albanians who do not have the right to be in the country,” he added.

For his part, Bledi Kuci said that during the meeting, the two ministers discussed ways to provide more opportunities for Albanian workers and skilled workers to settle in the UK, stressing that his government does not approve of illegal immigration and risky attempts to cross the English Channel.

Migrants from the Balkan country are on the rise, despite a controversial plan to transfer them to Rwanda.

The number of Albanians crossing the canal in small boats has risen sharply in recent months, although Britain considers Albania a “safe and prosperous country”, which minimizes the chances of being granted asylum. In the first six months of 2022, at least 2,165 Albanians arrived in the UK in small boats, up from 23 last year. The Mail recently reported that 40% of illegal migrants who arrived in the UK in June and July were Albanians. Every year, Albanians, along with Afghans, rank first among the national groups arriving on small boats in the UK.

Last April, outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, hoping it would deter those considering crossing the English Channel in small boats. However, in the following months, migration flows did not decrease, but increased. The first flight for the deportation of migrants, scheduled for June last year, was canceled after the intervention of the European Court of Human Rights.

The UK Home Office has launched an information campaign for potential migrants, trying to combine deterrents for those who do not meet the conditions for settling in the UK with information about safe migration corridors and applying for asylum in the country of first admission. At the same time, the UK introduced tougher penalties for offenses related to illegal immigration.

Sources: REUTERS, APE.