Overview

• The UK government is in discussions with several countries to establish 'return hubs' for processing failed asylum seekers before deportation.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the hubs would target individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the UK and are stalling deportation.
• Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly ruled out hosting a UK return hub, citing loyalty to a separate agreement with Italy.
• The proposed hubs are part of a wider strategy to curb record small-boat crossings, exceeding 12,000 this year, and address people-smuggling networks.
• Officials expect to announce potential host countries in the coming months, while emphasizing that the hubs are not a 'silver bullet' solution to the migration crisis.