Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The Italian government has firmly denied a recent report claiming that Italy and Greece had agreed with the United States to resettle hundreds of migrants from South America. The report, which was initially broadcast by CBS News, suggested that Italy and Greece were set to accept a large number of migrants from Latin American countries. However, both nations have rejected this claim. Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis responded to the report on X, stating unequivocally that there is no such agreement or request from the US to resettle legal immigrants in Greece. He emphasized the inaccuracies of the CBS report.…

Police in Thuringia, Germany, are investigating a racist incident at a migrant reception facility in Suhl, resulting in the termination of two security guards. The guards allegedly incited racial hatred while on duty, sparking outrage and an ongoing criminal investigation. The incident involved the guards playing the song “L’amour toujours” by Italian DJ Gigi D’Agostino on a smartphone and making racist comments. A colleague recorded the event and filed a complaint, leading to the guards’ suspension and subsequent dismissal. A police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation is underway for incitement to racial hatred, a serious offense under German law. This…

The British government has confirmed that no asylum seekers will be deported to Rwanda before the upcoming general election in July 2024, marking a potential end to its controversial Rwanda plan. This announcement came in response to a High Court request for clarification, contradicting earlier statements that deportations could start as soon as June 24. The court’s request arose from a legal challenge to the Safety of Rwanda Act, brought by the FDA trade union, which represents senior civil servants. Despite the government’s latest statement, the judge confirmed that the hearing next week on the law’s validity would proceed as…

A recent study by economists from the University of Leiden, Netherlands, reveals that migrants cost European governments less than native citizens and, in many cases, provide a net positive contribution to public finances. This research challenges common misconceptions about the financial impact of migrants on EU countries. The analysis, conducted by Giacomo Boffi, Eduard-Suari-Andreu, and Olaf van Vliet, examined data from 15 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden. The study took into account various benefits such as social assistance and unemployment benefits, offset by the…

The humanitarian rescue ship Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, is expected to arrive in the Italian port of Ancona on June 1st 2024. On board are 67 people rescued from distress in the Mediterranean, including seven minors, three of whom are unaccompanied. The Prefecture of Ancona announced that the Ocean Viking is expected to arrive on June 1 at around 8 am. Among the migrants, all of whom are men, there are 60 adults and seven minors, with four being accompanied and three unaccompanied. These individuals hail from a variety of countries, including Syria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine, Guinea…

In a heated debate aired on France 2 on May 23, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Jordan Bardella, the leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, presented their differing visions for Europe’s future just weeks before the European elections. Bardella’s stance on immigration, advocating for the “systematic pushback” of migrants arriving by sea, was a focal point of their discussion. For over an hour and a half, Bardella and Attal sparred on various issues, with immigration being a significant point of contention. Bardella outlined his plan for “systematic refoulement” of migrants arriving on European shores, emphasizing the need…

Authorities in Ventimiglia are preparing to clear a migrant camp established along the Roya riverbank near the Italian-French border. Despite a decrease in migrant flows, local sources indicate that plans for eviction are underway. The provincial committee for public order and security, led by Prefect Valerio Massimo Romeo, convened at the prefecture of Imperia on May 28. During the meeting, it was decided to initiate the clearance of the migrant camp along the Roya riverbank in Ventimiglia. An urgent eviction order was approved by the committee, soon to be endorsed by Ventimiglia’s Mayor, Flavio Di Muro. The local administration is…

The Italian government has announced the extension of Italy’s state of emergency over migrant arrivals for an additional six months. This decision comes in response to the increasing influx of migrants via Mediterranean routes, posing challenges to national security and immigration management. Premier Giorgia Meloni and Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci formalized the extension, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the escalating situation. The state of emergency extension is attributed to the exceptional rise in the flow of migrants entering Italy through Mediterranean migration routes. This measure underscores the government’s commitment to employing extraordinary means and powers to manage the intensity…

Critics argue that the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, recently approved by the EU Council and Parliament, violates human rights and is unlikely to meet its goals. The pact, lauded as a significant achievement, aims to strengthen the EU’s external borders and ensure that no member state bears the burden of migratory pressure alone. However, non-governmental organizations, legal experts, and migration researchers are skeptical about the claims of safeguarding fundamental rights under the new regulations. Migration researcher Franck Duvell has expressed concerns that the new pact could lead to more situations like the ill-fated Moria camp on the…

A recent monitoring report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has revealed a worrying trend: the number of unaccompanied children arriving in Trieste, northeastern Italy, doubled in 2023. The report states that 3,000 unaccompanied children reached Trieste via the Balkan Route last year, nearly all of them boys fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This influx of unaccompanied minors, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all individuals assisted by the IRC and its partners, has raised alarms among officials and communities. The IRC report highlights that 94 percent of these minors are Afghan nationals, with the remainder coming from Pakistan…