Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Rahima, a woman from Bangladesh, went to Oman hoping for a better life for her family after her husband’s death. However, her experience as a migrant worker turned into a nightmare. Instead of working as a domestic helper as promised, she was made to carry heavy water drums and work on a poultry farm. Her employers denied her adequate rest, and when she fell ill and missed work for a day, they refused to give her food. “I was verbally abused when I asked for food,” Rahima shared. Worse still, she was told to visit a doctor at her own…

David Melgar and his family stood patiently on the Paso del Norte International Bridge in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, enduring the cold December morning. They had been waiting since 3 a.m., hoping for a chance to cross into the United States. Accompanied by their 8-year-old son, the family had fled Honduras two months earlier after being threatened by extortionists. For them, this moment represented the possibility of a safer and better future. Their journey brought them to rely on the CBP One app, a tool introduced in January 2023 by the Biden administration. The app has been used to schedule nearly…

The partial victory of Nigerian PhD student Sue Agazie against Newcastle University highlights the struggles many international students face in UK universities. Sue, who paused her studies due to kidney failure and a strained relationship with her supervisor, received a tuition fee refund and £5,000 in compensation. Newcastle University admitted to mishandling her case, acknowledging the absence of a second supervisor and the financial stress she endured. This case mirrors the experience of Egyptian postgraduate Riham Sheble, who was awarded £12,000 in compensation by the University of Warwick. Sheble had requested more time to complete her studies after being diagnosed…

Mexico has introduced a bilingual “Migrant Hymn” celebrating its nationals living in the United States, even as migrants from other countries face significant challenges and dangers within Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the hymn during her morning briefing, calling Mexican migrants “heroes” for their contributions, including $63 billion in remittances sent home last year. The song, blending English and Spanish, emphasizes resilience and loyalty, with lines such as “we change our location, not our flag.” While around 11 million Mexicans reside in the U.S., including 5 million without documentation, many fled due to violence or lack of opportunities in Mexico.…

The U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated 43 migrants to Cuba following two separate interdictions in the Florida Straits this week. The operation highlights the ongoing efforts to manage unlawful maritime migration in the region. The first incident occurred on December 11, 2024, when a Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew spotted a migrant vessel approximately 50 miles south of Marathon. In the second case, reported by a good Samaritan on Sunday, a makeshift vessel capsized about 47 miles southwest of Islamorada. Five individuals were rescued from the water by the good Samaritan before the Coast Guard arrived. Lt. Thomas Pease,…

The Tunisian coast guard has recovered the bodies of 20 African migrants after their boat sank off the coast, marking the second migrant tragedy in just one week. The incident occurred near Sfax, a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe. According to the national guard, five survivors were rescued from the ill-fated boat on Wednesday, and search operations are ongoing to locate any remaining missing passengers. This follows another heartbreaking incident last Thursday when nine bodies were recovered, and six others were reported missing after a similar boat sank. Why are these tragedies happening? Tunisia has become…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that over 10 million migrants currently reside within the country, while an estimated 20 million Nigerians are living abroad. This announcement was made on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, by Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), during an event in Abuja to mark the 2024 International Migrants Day. Hon. Ahmed highlighted the significant contributions made by Nigerian migrants abroad, particularly through remittances and technological transfers. “Last year alone, Nigerian migrants sent home over $23 billion in remittances. These funds have been…

A new initiative in London is offering migrants with uncertain immigration statuses; a way to report abuse and exploitation without fear of their personal information being shared with immigration authorities. The project, led by the charity Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), aims to protect vulnerable individuals while addressing systemic barriers to justice. Funded by a £50,000 grant from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, this two-year research program is part of a broader £1.1 million investment to support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers across the city. The initiative reflects the mayor’s commitment to standing up for migrant workers’ rights, a promise he…

A South African national who was on the U.S. terrorist watchlist has been arrested in New York City after entering the country illegally. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was first detained in Texas for criminal trespassing but was later released. According to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, the individual was initially arrested on a ranch near Eagle Pass, Texas, in September. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) handed the suspect over to federal border authorities, who later released him. Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the Texas DPS, shared that the arrest was part of…

A police officer tragically died late Tuesday night in Kamphaeng Phet province, Thailand, while attempting to stop two pickup trucks carrying illegal migrants from Myanmar. The incident occurred in Mueang district when one of the trucks crashed into a parked police car at a roadblock. Pol Cpl Natthawat, who was standing behind the police car, was fatally crushed against a utility pole upon impact. The truck’s driver, identified as Songphol, abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby sugarcane plantation. However, police apprehended him shortly after the crash. According to authorities, Songphol had called his brother, who was driving a…