Albanian national escapes immigration removal centre

An Albanian national has absconded from an immigration removal centre, the Home Office has confirmed.

Sky News understands the 19-year-old escaped on 14 July, during a hospital transfer from the Oxfordshire immigration removal centre.

The individual is not thought to be a risk to the public.

In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a detained person absconded while under escort from Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre on 14 July 2026.

"We have robust measures to track down and detain absconders. It would not be appropriate to comment further during a live investigation."

The incident comes less than a year after Campsfield reopened as part of the government's plans to expand immigration detention capacity.

The site was closed in 2019 following years of problems including hunger strikes, self-harm and suicides.

It reopened in 2025 following a major refurbishment and forms part of expansion plans in the government's attempt to increase the detention and removal of people with no legal right to remain in the UK.

Since taking office, the Home Office claim 70,000 people have been removed from the UK, with returns and deportations now at their highest level in almost a decade.

Read more from Sky News:
Tuchel blames 'English DNA' after World Cup semi-final defeat
Heatwave after heatwave: When will we see rain again?

Albanian nationals have been the most common nationality to be returned from the UK through enforcement removals.

According to the latest Home Office figures, they accounted for almost a quarter of all enforced returns, with 2,247 people removed.

The increase followed the signing of the UK-Albania Joint Communiqué in December 2022, following a sharp increase in Albanian nationals crossing the English Channel in small boats that year.

Sky News understands that the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) teams are leading the search for the detainee, and are being supported by Home Office Intelligence.

(c) Sky News 2026: Albanian national escapes immigration removal centre