During a recent diplomatic visit to Albania, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled plans to establish “return hubs” in third countries for asylum seekers whose claims have been denied.
These facilities are intended to detain and process individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the UK, particularly those who obstruct deportation by losing documents or employing other stalling tactics. However, the announcement faced immediate challenges when Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly rejected the idea of Albania participating in such a scheme.
Rama cited an existing agreement with Italy, which has already established two return centers in Albania, as a reason for not engaging in similar negotiations with the UK. This public refusal led to criticism from political opponents, with Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp labeling the trip an “embarrassment.”
Despite the setback, Starmer’s team maintained that Albania’s stance was known prior to the visit and emphasized ongoing discussions with other European countries regarding the establishment of return hubs. The Prime Minister defended the concept as a potential innovation in immigration policy, aiming to address the issue of individuals who have no legal right to remain in the UK but cannot be deported due to various obstacles.
The proposal has drawn criticism from refugee advocates who argue that punitive measures are ineffective and urge for evidence-based and humane approaches to immigration. While the United Nations refugee agency supports the concept of return hubs, this position contrasts with its opposition to the UK’s previous Rwanda deportation plan.
Over 12,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats as of the middle of May 2025, indicating that this could be a record year for illegal migration. The UK government continues to seek collaborative solutions with international partners to manage and reduce irregular migration effectively.
