The number of Albanian immigrants deported from Britain doubles

 


Oct 13, 2023. Posted by  Balkan Periscope - Hellas

 

The number of migrants leaving Britain after arriving on dinghies is on the rise, figures obtained by the DailyMail show.

Internal Home Office figures show that 628 migrants were deported in the first six months of this year, compared to 382 in all of 2022.

The increase has been driven by a significant increase in the number of Albanian emigrants returned to their homeland under the terms of the return agreement signed with Tirana in December. Of the 628 departures from January to June, 512 were Albanians.

45 Iraqis, 17 Iranians and 54 other nationalities also left the UK in this period.

Throughout the year 2022, 215 Albanians, 83 Iraqis, 31 Iranians and 53 of other nationalities have returned.

In all of 2021, there were just 28 small boat migrants leaving Britain, the data revealed.

If returns for the second half of this year continue at a similar pace, it would see the annual total of emigrants leave reach more than 1,200, a 200 percent year-on-year increase.

The number of arrivals so far this year is down 27 percent on the same point last year. Official figures show that 601 migrants have arrived in Britain this week, taking the annual total to 25,931, compared with 35,604 at the same point last year.

A Home Office source said: "The number of dinghies arriving through the channel, especially from Albanians, which enable illegal crossings, has decreased."  

"We started from a very low base last year, but we need everything to stop the ships. "

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