Migrants back in Albania within hours

FASTEST DEPORTATIONS ON RECORD

- Michael Knowles

CHANNEL migrants are being deported within 48 hours of arriving here, the Daily Express can reveal.

A Home Office flight that landed in Tirana, Albania, last week was carrying five men aged between 20 and 28, who had been on UK soil for less than two days.

The Albanians had crossed the Channel in small boats on September 5, but were removed on the 7th.

The Daily Express understands these are some of the fastest deportations on record.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick, speaking from Albania, said: "Albanians crossing illegally in small boats are being returned back to Tirana in a matter of days.

"As we've done so, we have seen a more than 90% reduction in the number of Albanians arriving illegally, and overall small boat arrivals are down by 20% despite significant increases in illegal arrivals into Europe.

"It shows that swift returns deliver the deterrent effect that is so vitally needed to stop the boats and it reinforces why delivering on our partnership with Rwanda is critical to securing our borders."

Mr Jenrick met with Albanian interior minister Taulant Balla yesterday to discuss the deal struck by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in December.

Deterrent

London and Tirana have agreed to speed up the removal of Albanians who arrive in small boats, hoping to deport them within weeks instead of months or years, in a bid to deter more people from making the perilous crossing.

So far 3,529 Albanian migrants have been deported back to their home country since December, the Daily Express understands.