Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The Labour Party in the United Kingdom has announced a new plan to speed up the asylum process for about 90,000 migrants. These migrants were originally set to be sent to Rwanda under the previous government’s plan. This big change comes after Sir Keir Starmer became the new Prime Minister. The new plan aims to process asylum claims faster. The Refugee Council, a group that helps refugees, thinks that about 60,000 of these 90,000 people will probably get asylum. This is because of where they come from. The government will look first at people from countries that are thought to…

The city of Amsterdam has taken a bold step in support of undocumented migrants and failed asylum seekers, vowing to continue providing basic shelter even if national funding is cut. This decision comes in response to the new Dutch government’s coalition agreement, which includes plans to discontinue funding for the “bed-bath-and-bread” scheme. Since 2019, Amsterdam has been part of a pilot program known as the “National Alien Facility” (LVV), along with Rotterdam, Groningen, Eindhoven, and Utrecht. This initiative, partially funded by the national government, has offered essential services to vulnerable migrants who have exhausted all legal options to stay in…

The Turkish Coast Guard has once again come to the aid of migrants in distress, rescuing 35 individuals who were reportedly pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek naval forces. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding migration in the Eastern Mediterranean and the humanitarian challenges faced by those seeking refuge. On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the Turkish Coast Guard Command responded to two separate distress calls involving migrants off the country’s southwestern coast. The first rescue operation took place near Fethiye, a popular tourist destination in Mugla province. Coast guard teams swiftly deployed a rescue boat to assist…

A shocking incident in Libya has resulted in the arrest of two Nigerian migrants following the death of their compatriot. The event, which occurred in the town of Brak, located in the Wadi al Shatii District of west-central Libya, has shed light on the often dangerous and precarious situations faced by migrants in the region. On Monday, July 15, 2024, local police in Brak took two undocumented Nigerian nationals into custody. The suspects, identified only by their initials ‘J.H.’ (born in 2002) and ‘A.M.’ (born in 1994), are alleged to have been involved in a violent assault that led to…

Libya and Malta have taken a significant step in their fight against irregular migration by renewing their bilateral agreement. The two Mediterranean nations are strengthening their commitment to address this pressing issue that affects both countries and the broader European region. On a recent visit to Tripoli, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela met with his Libyan counterpart, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. The leaders engaged in meaningful discussions that went beyond migration concerns. They explored ways to enhance cooperation in various areas, including prisoner exchange programs, counter-terrorism efforts, and potential collaborations in energy and investment sectors. The renewed memorandum of understanding builds…

An official app designed for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has led to kidnappings and extortion by drug cartels, according to a report by Amnesty International. The CBP One app, intended to help asylum seekers schedule appointments with border officials, has inadvertently put thousands of vulnerable people at risk as they wait for months in Mexico. Humanitarian groups argue that the app violates international human rights and refugee law. Amnesty International interviewed 365 asylum seekers, with one-in-ten reporting being kidnapped. Many felt targeted because they had appointments through the CBP One app. Cartels used the fear of missing these appointments…

A 67-year-old Indian-origin man, Gurprit Singh Peter Kahlon, along with five accomplices, has been found guilty of smuggling hundreds of migrants into the UK. The gang, operating from Teesside, smuggled Iraqi-Kurdish migrants from mainland Europe into the UK, charging between £5,000 and £10,000 per person. The migrants were hidden in various vehicles, including refrigerated lorry trailers, vans with bicycle boxes, and even among mattresses. Key Figures and Operations Kahlon played a pivotal role in recruiting drivers and facilitating the movement of people into the UK. His accomplices included: Footage captured by the National Crime Agency (NCA) shows Zada inspecting a…

Irish police detained 19 individuals during anti-migrant protests in Dublin, where a police car was set ablaze and fireworks were thrown. The police had to use pepper spray to control the situation. On Monday night, protests erupted outside a former paint factory in north Dublin, which was slated to house asylum seekers. The protests in the Coolock area led to these arrests, with one security guard hospitalized and several police officers injured, according to the Irish Times. The protesters also attacked a digger at the site, escalating the violence. The police are increasingly concerned about the “complex and volatile security…

A record number of migrants crossed the Channel in a single day since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, the Home Office revealed on Tuesday. According to the Home Office, 427 people made the journey in seven boats on Monday, bringing the provisional total for the year to 14,759. More than 1,000 migrants have arrived in the UK since Labour won the election just under two weeks ago. The total for 2024 to date is 12% higher than the number recorded this time last year, which was 13,200, and up 1% compared to the same period in 2022, when 14,554…

For nearly three years, a group of Christians known as the Home Office Vigil Prayer Group has gathered monthly outside the Home Office headquarters in London, just down the road from Westminster Parliament. They have not submitted petitions but have offered prayers for the hundreds who perish each month attempting to reach Europe and the UK. They pray for those making the perilous journeys, for the decision-makers whose policies contribute to these tragedies, for the rescuers, and for the grieving families. Stories of bodies decomposing on beaches, groups drowning in rivers and forests, and numerous lives lost at sea in…