The UK government is reportedly considering establishing offshore migration centers in the Balkans for rejected asylum seekers, according to The Times and The Independent. The plan is being discussed among ministers as a response to the ongoing migrant crisis, with thousands crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Migration Watch UK reports that over 5,200 migrants have already entered Britain via small boats in 2025. Under the proposed scheme, “return centers” abroad would accommodate individuals whose asylum applications have been denied.
This marks a significant shift from the Conservative government’s failed Rwanda deportation policy, which aimed to send migrants to the African nation regardless of their asylum eligibility.
According to The Times, the UK may approach Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia for cooperation. The report further suggests that London plans to offer financial compensation to countries that agree to host the migrants.
The potential move raises questions about human rights implications and the feasibility of such agreements, as similar policies have faced legal and political challenges in the past.
