British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that the UK is initiating discussions with other nations to establish “return hubs” for asylum seekers whose claims have been denied.
“What now we want to do and are having discussions of… is return hubs, which is where someone has been through the system in the UK, they need to be returned… and we’ll do that, if we can, through return hubs,” Starmer told GB News during his official visit to Albania.
Starmer is facing mounting political pressure to reduce the number of irregular migrants arriving in the UK, particularly those reaching the country in small boats. The issue has become more urgent with the growing support for the hard-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party.
In a marked shift from the previous administration, Starmer’s Labour government scrapped the controversial Rwanda deportation scheme last July.
Migration policy is a central focus of Starmer’s two-day visit to Albania, a country from which many migrants have journeyed to the UK.
Earlier this week, the prime minister unveiled a series of strict immigration reforms. These include reducing the number of overseas care workers, extending the residency requirement before migrants can apply for permanent settlement, and expanding the authority to deport foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
The measures are widely seen as a strategic move to counteract the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which gained ground in recent local elections.
Labour, in its general election manifesto, pledged to bring down net migration significantly. Official figures showed net migration stood at 728,000 in the year leading up to last June. It had reached a high of 906,000 in 2023, after years of remaining around 200,000 during the previous decade.
Alongside these high legal migration numbers, the UK is also contending with record levels of irregular migration.
More than 12,500 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, based on data from the UK interior ministry compiled by AFP.
What you should know
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s proposal to establish “return hubs” signals a new phase in the UK’s approach to handling rejected asylum seekers.
The concept involves creating facilities in partner countries where individuals whose asylum claims have been denied in the UK would be sent, rather than remaining on British soil.
This move comes as Starmer faces growing political pressure to reduce the number of irregular migrants, particularly with the hard-right Reform UK party gaining traction by criticizing the government’s handling of immigration.
The “return hubs” proposal is part of a broader set of policies aimed at tightening immigration controls. Starmer has also announced measures such as slashing the number of foreign care workers, lengthening the wait time before migrants can apply for permanent residency, and expanding the government’s power to deport foreign criminals.
These policies reflect an attempt by the Labour government to show a firmer stance on immigration without resorting to controversial plans like the now-abandoned Rwanda deportation scheme.
The move highlights Labour’s attempt to navigate public anxiety over rising migration figures—both legal and illegal—while preserving human rights obligations. If successful, return hubs could become a key part of the UK’s strategy to deter irregular migration and manage asylum processing more efficiently.
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