Talks on the installation of “return centers” of asylum seekers outside the United Kingdom, the British Prime Minister announced today (15.05.2025) Star starbut he was counting without the Edi Rama…
«We are discussing with some countries about these return centers, I consider them a real important innovation“Starmer from Tirana said at a press conference he gave with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.
The Labor Prime Minister did not give more details on how these “centers” will work, commenting only that The goal is to make the deportations of persons not eligible to be asylum in Britain more effectively. He did not even clarify which countries he is talking about.
“This will be implemented mainly for persons who have exhausted all legal means to stay in the United Kingdom,” one spokesman later explained.
Edi Rama hastened to exclude the possibility of creating such a center in Albania, although it has signed an agreement with Italy to operate two such detention centers of irregular migrants in his country. “This model needs time to try it,” he said, trying to explain why these centers are essentially permission since they were built. “If it works, it could be repeated, not in Albania, but in other countries in the region.”he added.
When he took power last July, Starmer left the controversial plan of the previous, conservative government, to deport asylum seekers and immigrants to Rwanda, where they would remain until their request was examined.
OR Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch commented on the X platform that Starmer’s plan is “weaker” than he was abandoned. “It will not stop the boats. People will try their luck, knowing that they can stay in the UK if they are granted asylum. “he explained.
For Enver Salomon, the General Manager of Refugee Council, a non -governmental organization that helps refugees, These “return centers” are “inhumane” and “inappropriate”. The repatriation of people who do not have the right to stay in the UK should be done in a “coordinated and humanitarian” way to be effective, he added.
Starmer has pledged to reduce immigration (legal and illegal) to the UK. On Monday, he announced a series of measures, such as changing the conditions to acquire nationality and ending the recruitment of elderly caregivers from abroad.
In terms of irregular migration, it promises to combat the networks of traffickers, but the arrivals of people who cross the Channel with small boats are constantly increasing. About 36,800 arrived in England last year – most of them were Afghans, Syrians and Iranians.
Applications for asylum administration tripled In recent years in Britain, reaching 84,200 in 2024according to official data.