Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Authorities in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste have intensified border control measures along the Slovenia frontier, resulting in nine arrests over a span of two weeks from May 20 to June 4 2024. The crackdown, aimed at combating irregular immigration and associated criminal activities, has shed light on the region’s ongoing challenges with cross-border movements. Among those apprehended were three suspects charged with aiding and abetting irregular immigration. The individuals included a 27-year-old Romanian citizen and two Turkish nationals aged 36 and 29. Details surrounding their alleged involvement in facilitating unauthorized entry into Italy were not immediately disclosed. In…

In a notable shift in Germany’s migration policies, the country has deported 30% more people so far this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report by the German news agency DPA. This increase in deportations coincides with a decline in asylum applications, as revealed by official government figures. According to statistics, as of June 7th, Germany had deported 6,316 individuals, a significant rise from the 4,792 deportations recorded during the same period last year. The total number of deportations in 2023 stood at 16,430, while in 2022, an estimated 12,945 people were deported from Germany.…

On Sunday, June 9, the Taliban-run refugees ministry reported that over 3,000 Afghan migrants were deported or voluntarily returned from Iran and Pakistan. This significant movement of people highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan refugees in neighboring countries. The coordinated efforts of Iran and Pakistan to send back these migrants reflect their intensified measures to address the presence of undocumented Afghans within their borders. Specifically, Pakistan deported 911 Afghan migrants on this day. The ministry detailed that 125 families, comprising 711 individuals, returned to Afghanistan via the Torkham crossing, a major border point between the two countries. Additionally, 38…

Sigmar Gabriel, the former German Foreign Minister, has urged the German government to initiate negotiations with the Taliban concerning the deportation of Afghan migrants who have committed crimes. In an article for Bild newspaper on Sunday, Gabriel emphasized that Germany should secure assurances from the Taliban to ensure that deported refugees are not tortured or killed upon their return. This call for dialogue follows a violent incident in Mannheim, where an Afghan refugee attacked and killed a police officer and injured five others. In response, the German Chancellor affirmed that dangerous criminals and terrorists have no place in Germany. Gabriel…

In El Amra, Tunisia, migrants who dream of reaching Europe find themselves stuck in an increasingly dire situation. Less than 100 miles from the Italian islands, these migrants live under black tarps, seeking refuge from the sun and waiting for a chance to board boats that smugglers use to transport them to Europe. Fleeing war, poverty, climate change, and persecution, they are now trapped in Tunisia, unable to move forward to Europe or return home due to lack of funds. The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM)estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 migrants are stranded in rural olive groves near Tunisia’s…

In efforts to deter migrants from making the perilous journey across the English Channel to Britain, French police employed aggressive tactics, including firing tear gas and sabotaging migrant dinghies. Despite these measures, boatloads of migrants continued to brave the treacherous waters. One distressing incident unfolded when a dinghy carrying approximately 80 individuals, including three children and a six-month-old baby, capsized in the midst of the busy shipping route. Fortunately, there were no reported serious injuries, but the harrowing scene underscored the risks faced by migrants seeking refuge in the UK. Earlier reports highlighted French police officers seemingly standing by as…

Polish employers are showing a growing interest in recruiting migrant workers from Uzbekistan, a sentiment echoed during a recent virtual meeting coordinated by the Uzbekistan Embassy. The gathering, conducted via videoconference, facilitated discussions between the External Labour Migration Agency of Uzbekistan, the Poland-Asia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and several prominent Polish companies and consulting agencies. Central to the discussions was a comprehensive presentation showcasing the vast potential of Uzbekistan’s labour market. Participants delved into various aspects of labor migration to Poland, addressing existing challenges and exploring potential solutions. The enthusiasm among Polish employers to tap into Uzbekistan’s workforce was…

A charity rescue vessel operating off the coast of Libya recovered the bodies of 11 migrants on Friday 7th of June 2024, following the rescue of over 160 individuals from boats near the North African country, as reported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The MSF vessel, Geo Barents, conducted two operations to rescue 146 migrants and later discovered an additional 20 individuals on another boat. Unfortunately, they also encountered the tragic sight of 11 bodies spotted by a reconnaissance plane floating in the sea, according to Reuters. In response to the incident, MSF expressed their distress on the social media…

Stakeholders in Nigeria have reaffirmed their dedication to developing a national migration policy that aligns with the country’s evolving needs and priorities. This commitment was made during the Technical Working Group meeting on migration and development for the National Migration Policy (NMP), facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Migration Partnership Trust Fund. The meeting, held in Abuja, aimed to bolster fact-based and data-driven migration governance in Nigeria. Participants underscored the necessity of updating Nigeria’s migration policy, originally implemented in 2015, to effectively address current migration dynamics. Aliyu Tijani, Federal Commissioner of the National Commission…

On Thursday, June 6th, 2024, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported no recorded attempts by irregular migrants to cross into Lithuania from Belarus. Conversely, Latvia documented 21 attempts by irregular migrants to cross its border on the same day. Poland, facing a significant wave of irregular migration for several months, reported that 165 foreign nationals were not allowed entry on Wednesday. So far this year, 226 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places. The influx of irregular migrants into the EU’s eastern member states from Belarus started in 2021 and is widely attributed…