In 2021, the British government deported 435 people to Albania, the highest number out of all nationalities, according to data from the Home Office.
The number of deportations via government charter flights tripled during the pandemic and has continued into last year. Romanians made up the second-highest number of those deported from the UK with 276, followed by Poland with 167, and Lithuania with 133.
Hungary and Bulgaria totalled 17 each and Spain just five.
Analysis: Albanian Asylum Applications Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels
It was reported that the charter flights departing the UK often left with less than ten passengers, with less than five in some cases.
Activist Karen Doyle, from campaign group Movement for Justice, told the publication: “The increased use of mass deportation charter flights illustrates this government’s disregard for human rights.
A Home Office spokesperson commented on the deportations, “Every week the Home Office removes, to different countries, people who have no right to be in the UK. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have continued to deport foreign national offenders and return other immigration offenders where flight routes have been available to us, both on scheduled and charter flights.
The government’s efforts to facilitate entirely legitimate and legal returns of people who have entered the UK illegally are often frustrated by late challenges submitted hours before the flight. These claims are often baseless and entirely without merit but are given full legal consideration which can lead to removal being rescheduled. Some operations also have to be cancelled or deferred for reasons related to COVID-19.
“We are looking to address some of this through the New plan for Immigration which aims to more easily remove those with no right to be in the UK.”
Thousands of Albanians seek asylum in the UK every year and tens are granted protection. Reasons for asylum include domestic violence, escaping sex trafficking, blood feuds, and political persecution.
