UK says hundreds of migrants returned to Albania under 'gold-standard' deal

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) – The UK has sent back hundreds of migrants under a "gold-standard" deal with Albania, the British immigration minister said on Sunday.

Robert Jenrick told SkyNews that a significant number of these individuals have either absconded or remain in hostels.

The influx of over 12,000 Albanian migrants who arrived in the UK via the English Channel last year prompted the government to establish an agreement with Albania in an effort to curb this figure.

Jenrick previously referred to the agreement as a "gold-standard" deal that has resulted in "thousands of Albanian illegal migrants being returned home" and a significant reduction in the number of people crossing from Albania.

In April, the government made an announcement that over 1,000 Albanian nationals had been repatriated since December.

The UK and Albania also reached a deal last month that will see hundreds of Albanian prisoners to be returned in exchange for British help to modernize the Albanian prison system.

The arrangement involves the transfer of 200 Albanian citizens incarcerated in prisons in England and Wales, who are serving sentences of four years or more.