British Home Secretary Suella Braverman earlier this week spoke of a “migrant invasion” and “increasing numbers of Albanian immigrants” which she blamed on single young men she said were part of organized criminal gangs. “Many Albanians also abuse modern slavery laws,” he said further.

These comments caused riots in England and also misunderstood Rama. “Offending a community and talking about gangsters and criminals doesn’t sound English, more like shouting from a mental hospital,” Rama said while praising Germany’s migration policies at a summit of Western Balkan countries in Berlin. “I have never heard a German minister call Albanians criminals,” he said, praising the “dignity” of Germany’s approach. Less than 1 percent of Albanians in the UK are currently in prison, he added.

In an interview with the BBC, Rama said that Braverman’s invasion comments were “crazy” and that it would be impossible for him not to respond to them. “This is not about one person. It’s about the climate that is created and about looking for scapegoats and blaming others. This is not about Albanians or foreigners or gangsters, but about failed border policies and crime.”

“Language like that is not a policy, not a program, not a vision. This does nothing more than fuel xenophobia and target a community. “I admire everything Britain stands for, but I am completely disgusted by this type of politics which will ultimately fail,” Rama said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman tried to calm minds today and referred to cooperation with Albania in tackling people smuggling. “We have strong relationships with our partners in Albania. “We are grateful for the cooperation with the Albanian government and remain committed to working with them,” the spokesperson said.

Last week, the British House of Commons learned that 12,000 Albanians had entered the country illegally this year after crossing the English Channel. In 2020 there were only 50.

10,000 of the newly arrived migrants are men. Accounting for 1 percent of the adult male population in Albania. Albanians now make up the largest group of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.