UK Court Blocks Deportations of Male Trafficking Victims to Albania

A panel of three senior judges in the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration Court ruled that the UK Home Office may be blocked from deporting male trafficking victims to Albania. The court determined that adult men face a real risk of retrafficking and lack access to dedicated shelters in Albania, where corruption is widespread.

The decision stemmed from a legal challenge by a 21-year-old Albanian man who was trafficked through Belgium into the UK cannabis trade. This ruling contradicts the Home Office's previous stance that such individuals would be safe upon their return. Government data shows Albanian nationals are the most frequently removed group from the UK, with 2,247 deportations in the year ending March 2026.

Esme Madill, a solicitor at the Islington Law Centre, welcomed the judgment, stating it was based on detailed evidence regarding the trafficking of boys and young men by organized Albanian criminal networks. The Home Office is currently considering whether to appeal the ruling.