UK Might Deport Migrants to the Balkans, Reports The Times
London is reportedly considering paying countries to accept rejected asylum seekers Britain is currently evaluating the idea of sending migrants whose asylum applications have been denied to “return hubs” in Western Balkan nations, as reported...
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London is reportedly considering paying countries to accept rejected asylum seekers
Britain is currently evaluating the idea of sending migrants whose asylum applications have been denied to “return hubs” in Western Balkan nations, as reported by The Times on Friday, referencing government sources. This proposal emerges amid ongoing challenges related to a prolonged crisis involving asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Despite various measures implemented by the UK to curb and manage immigration, recent polls indicate that immigration remains the second most pressing issue for the British public, following the economy. In fact, 72% of respondents believe that the government mishandles immigration issues.
According to the sources, the government is looking into an arrangement where countries like Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia would receive financial compensation for accepting each failed asylum seeker. These hubs in those territories would serve as a departure point for deporting migrants from nations with which the UK lacks repatriation agreements.
The proposed initiative reportedly involves relocating rejected asylum seekers from countries classified as unsafe under UK law, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, to these offshore hubs. Conversely, asylum seekers from nations deemed safe, such as Vietnam, Pakistan, and India, could be temporarily held in these hubs as arrangements are made for their return to their home countries.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is aiming to collaborate with other European nations that are also considering the establishment of such hubs in third-party countries. The sources noted that the Netherlands is currently in discussions regarding the scheme with the Ugandan government.
In July 2024, the UK scrapped plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda under a contentious immigration policy following the Conservative Party's loss to the Labour Party in elections. Starmer labeled the scheme as “dead,” countering his predecessor Rishi Sunak’s assertion that it would “stop the boats.” The UK’s highest court has ruled the plan illegal, declaring Rwanda unsafe for deportees.
Last year, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper laid out plans for a series of initiatives to address immigration and enhance border security. These measures, which encompassed increased enforcement and return flights, augmented detention capacity, and sanctions against employers hiring workers illegally, have faced criticism as “a waste of taxpayer money.” Detractors argue that the policies lack specificity and fail to acknowledge “the dignity and humanity of migrants.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Britain is currently evaluating the idea of sending migrants whose asylum applications have been denied to “return hubs” in Western Balkan nations, as reported by The Times on Friday, referencing government sources. This proposal emerges amid ongoing challenges related to a prolonged crisis involving asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Despite various measures implemented by the UK to curb and manage immigration, recent polls indicate that immigration remains the second most pressing issue for the British public, following the economy. In fact, 72% of respondents believe that the government mishandles immigration issues.
According to the sources, the government is looking into an arrangement where countries like Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia would receive financial compensation for accepting each failed asylum seeker. These hubs in those territories would serve as a departure point for deporting migrants from nations with which the UK lacks repatriation agreements.
The proposed initiative reportedly involves relocating rejected asylum seekers from countries classified as unsafe under UK law, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, to these offshore hubs. Conversely, asylum seekers from nations deemed safe, such as Vietnam, Pakistan, and India, could be temporarily held in these hubs as arrangements are made for their return to their home countries.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is aiming to collaborate with other European nations that are also considering the establishment of such hubs in third-party countries. The sources noted that the Netherlands is currently in discussions regarding the scheme with the Ugandan government.
In July 2024, the UK scrapped plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda under a contentious immigration policy following the Conservative Party's loss to the Labour Party in elections. Starmer labeled the scheme as “dead,” countering his predecessor Rishi Sunak’s assertion that it would “stop the boats.” The UK’s highest court has ruled the plan illegal, declaring Rwanda unsafe for deportees.
Last year, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper laid out plans for a series of initiatives to address immigration and enhance border security. These measures, which encompassed increased enforcement and return flights, augmented detention capacity, and sanctions against employers hiring workers illegally, have faced criticism as “a waste of taxpayer money.” Detractors argue that the policies lack specificity and fail to acknowledge “the dignity and humanity of migrants.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
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