Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has given itself a 10-day deadline to find a temporary solution to the overcrowding in migrant reception centres for unaccompanied minors in the Canary Islands. The region has been facing a severe strain on its facilities due to a surge in migrant arrivals, many of whom are coming from West Africa via the dangerous Atlantic route. This influx has intensified since August, with arrivals continuing despite the harsh winter sea conditions, according to reports from local media such as Canarias 7. The situation has prompted concerns from various political groups, with Spain’s main opposition…

The U.S. Senate moved closer to passing a controversial bill on Thursday, aiming to expand deportation measures for undocumented immigrants charged with minor crimes. The legislation, which received significant bipartisan support in the House earlier this week, is expected to gain President Donald Trump’s approval upon his inauguration later this month. Named the Laken Riley Act, the bill honors a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was tragically killed by an undocumented migrant previously arrested for shoplifting. The proposed law mandates the detention and potential deportation of undocumented individuals charged with crimes such as burglary, theft, and shoplifting. The Senate…

The Indonesian government has announced plans to launch a sustainable entrepreneurship program aimed at empowering retired migrant workers. Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding, revealed this initiative during a visit to Karawang, West Java. Minister Karding explained that the P2MI Ministry, recently established by the president, is dedicated to addressing the needs of migrant workers throughout their journey—from departure to employment and after their return home. Once migrant workers return to Indonesia, they are categorized as retired migrant workers and are the focus of this new program. The ministry plans to support these individuals by…

The Ministry of Labour in Thailand has announced a critical February 13, 2025, deadline for employers to renew work permits for migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Renewals will allow these workers to continue legally residing and working in Thailand until February 13, 2027. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure ethical employment practices and the protection of migrant workers’ legal rights. Employers are urged to comply with labour laws and ensure their workers are covered under Section 33 of the Social Security Act. Thailand currently employs over 3.3 million legal migrant workers, with…

Italy’s Langhe region, renowned for producing world-class wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, hides a troubling reality beneath its scenic vineyards. While the area attracts high-end wine tourism, its prestigious wineries heavily rely on undocumented migrant workers to fill labour shortages. The government’s strict stance on immigration under Giorgia Meloni’s administration has not stopped Italian agriculture, including the wine industry, from depending on cheap labour from irregular migrants. Piertomaso Bergesio, a union leader in the region, highlights the paradox: “There is a huge need for workers, but immigration politics create irregularities.” Historically, grape harvesting was a family affair, but rising production…

New York City officials are working to remove National Guard members from migrant shelter operations as part of efforts to protect migrants ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. This decision follows fears that the federal government could repurpose the Guard to enforce immigration laws, a concern raised by advocates and legal experts. Governor Kathy Hochul initially deployed the National Guard in October 2022 to assist with the surge of migrants entering the city. Since then, they have played a critical role in managing shelter operations. However, with federal funding set to end in April, the city has been gradually phasing…

The harsh treatment of migrants in Libya has become a tragic reality for thousands seeking a better life in Europe. In 2024, the Libyan coast guard intercepted 21,700 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This marks a troubling continuation of the European Union’s (EU) controversial partnership with Libya, which has led to the forced return of migrants to a country known for its inhumane detention centers and widespread abuse. The intercepted migrants, including 1,500 women and 700 children, often travel on overcrowded, unsafe boats, risking their lives in search of a safer…

A baby girl born aboard a migrant dinghy en route to Spain’s Lanzarote island in the Canary Islands is in good health, along with her mother, according to medical officials. Both are receiving care at Molina Orosa University Hospital in Lanzarote, where they are being treated with antibiotics and monitored by pediatric specialists. Dr. Maria Sabalich, the hospital’s emergency coordinator, confirmed that the mother and child are safe and recovering well. “They are still in the hospital but doing well,” she said. The pair will be transferred to a humanitarian center for migrants after their discharge and are likely to…

Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) and the Ministry of Migrant Workers’ Protection are intensifying their cooperation to ensure the safety and rights of Indonesian workers overseas. In a recent meeting at Polri Headquarters in Jakarta, Polri Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Minister Abdul Kadir Karding discussed a joint strategy to tackle illegal departures and human trafficking involving migrant workers. Prabowo emphasized Polri’s strong support for the ministry’s programs, which aim to protect Indonesian workers and address the challenges they face abroad. A key initiative discussed was the creation of a special desk to handle issues related to migrant workers. This desk…

Italy is moving ahead with its plan to establish migrant detention centers in Albania, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This initiative, part of a bilateral agreement with Albania, aims to process asylum seekers intercepted near Italian waters in Albanian facilities, with the goal of reducing migrant flows from Africa. The agreement, signed last year, has faced significant opposition in recent months. European Union courts have raised legal concerns, questioning whether the plan complies with EU law. In recent rulings, judges ordered the transfer of two groups of detained migrants from Albanian centers back to Italy, leaving the facilities unoccupied.…