Labour party discussing moving people who were denied asylum to detention centers in Balkans.
The government aims to discourage migrants from crossing the channel.
March 22nd 2025.
The Labour party is considering implementing a new plan to deal with failed asylum seekers. The proposal suggests sending these individuals to detention centers located in various Balkan countries, including Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, and North Macedonia. This idea arises as a way to discourage people from attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats.
According to reports, this plan was drafted by Sir Keir Starmer's government and involves paying these Balkan countries for each person deported. This year alone, there has been a 24% increase in the number of migrants intercepted and brought to the UK by border force officials. The potential detention centers in the Balkans could house rejected asylum seekers from countries deemed unsafe by the UK, such as Afghanistan and Iran. It could also temporarily hold individuals from countries considered safe, like Vietnam and India.
One of the Balkan countries, Albania, currently has two empty detention centers that could be used for this purpose. These buildings were initially intended to be used as asylum processing centers by Italy, but the plans were scrapped due to court interventions. This proposal is seen as a more viable option compared to the Conservative government's previous plan of sending migrants to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. Unlike Rwanda, the Balkan countries are considered safe and have not faced the same level of criticism.
The Labour party, upon coming into government, scrapped the previous scheme that had cost an estimated £700 million and only resulted in four migrants voluntarily relocating. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is hopeful that these new proposals will deter migrants from attempting to cross the Channel by boat. A government source has stated that they are considering all options and will only move forward with a plan that is affordable, workable, and legal.
This news comes at a time when the European Commission is also pushing for the establishment of "return hubs" in third countries. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about the practicality and legality of such an idea. They argue that this approach could result in more people being detained, families being separated, and individuals being sent to countries they have no connection to. Critics also believe that as the UK faces a growing labor shortage, deporting larger numbers of migrants would only exacerbate the issue.
The Metro has reached out to the Home Office, as well as human rights and refugee charities, for their opinions on this matter. It remains to be seen if this proposal will be implemented and how it will impact the ongoing issue of asylum seekers in the UK.
According to reports, this plan was drafted by Sir Keir Starmer's government and involves paying these Balkan countries for each person deported. This year alone, there has been a 24% increase in the number of migrants intercepted and brought to the UK by border force officials. The potential detention centers in the Balkans could house rejected asylum seekers from countries deemed unsafe by the UK, such as Afghanistan and Iran. It could also temporarily hold individuals from countries considered safe, like Vietnam and India.
One of the Balkan countries, Albania, currently has two empty detention centers that could be used for this purpose. These buildings were initially intended to be used as asylum processing centers by Italy, but the plans were scrapped due to court interventions. This proposal is seen as a more viable option compared to the Conservative government's previous plan of sending migrants to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. Unlike Rwanda, the Balkan countries are considered safe and have not faced the same level of criticism.
The Labour party, upon coming into government, scrapped the previous scheme that had cost an estimated £700 million and only resulted in four migrants voluntarily relocating. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is hopeful that these new proposals will deter migrants from attempting to cross the Channel by boat. A government source has stated that they are considering all options and will only move forward with a plan that is affordable, workable, and legal.
This news comes at a time when the European Commission is also pushing for the establishment of "return hubs" in third countries. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about the practicality and legality of such an idea. They argue that this approach could result in more people being detained, families being separated, and individuals being sent to countries they have no connection to. Critics also believe that as the UK faces a growing labor shortage, deporting larger numbers of migrants would only exacerbate the issue.
The Metro has reached out to the Home Office, as well as human rights and refugee charities, for their opinions on this matter. It remains to be seen if this proposal will be implemented and how it will impact the ongoing issue of asylum seekers in the UK.
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