Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

In a harrowing journey, François, a 38-year-old Cameroonian migrant, found himself jumping off a pickup truck near the barren Algerian frontier. Only a day earlier, he, along with his wife and stepson, had been intercepted by the Tunisian coast guard while attempting a dangerous sea crossing to Europe. Now, he and a group of 30 other migrants, including two pregnant women, were facing a grim punishment—being left to navigate the unforgiving desert. François’s ordeal, captured through his phone’s GPS and his recordings, highlights the severe tactics employed by at least three North African nations to deter sub-Saharan migrants from attempting…

With an increasing number of asylum-seekers arriving in New York City, demand for the IDNYC municipal identification card has surged. City Council members have responded by offering their offices as pop-up enrollment sites to meet the growing need. Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala emphasized the importance of these pop-up sites, offering her own desk if necessary. The IDNYC cards, crucial for opening bank accounts, identifying oneself to police, and accessing schools, have become even more vital. The city issued 123,419 cards in the first eight months of fiscal year 2024, up from 117,389 in the same period the previous year. Despite…

There was little activity at the Super 8 motel in Rotterdam on Thursday, May 16, 2024, following an evacuation the previous night due to a malfunctioning sensor in the building’s sprinkler system. The Carman Road motel has been housing migrants since last summer. It began with an alarm blaring inside the motel. Residents, including migrants and their families, were forced to leave the building on Wednesday afternoon. Alarms had been going off intermittently for a week prior, a resident told the Times Union. This time, they waited outside for hours as firefighters arrived. After briefly being allowed back inside, they…

A report by Action Against Hunger (AAH) has revealed that 53 percent of unaccompanied minors under 17 in Paris are suffering from “severe hunger.” The majority of these adolescents are from Guinea and Ivory Coast. In a study conducted this winter with around 100 foreign minors aged 15 and 16, AAH found that they do not have enough to eat. Helene Quéau, head of AAH’s France mission, expressed outrage, stating, “This is intolerable for France, which is not living up to its obligations in terms of fighting hunger.” These adolescents, unrecognized as minors by the state, are excluded from child…

Sub-Saharan African migrants gather in a public garden in Sfax, south of the Tunisian capital Tunis, illustrating the ongoing migration challenges in the region. In response, Tunisia is set to sign agreements with several African countries to facilitate the voluntary return of irregular migrants. According to the government, the repatriation is being conducted on a voluntary basis. Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mounir Ben Rjiba, announced the initiative, noting a steady increase in requests for voluntary repatriation. He highlighted the national strategy to counter irregular immigration, which involves coordination with EU nations and international organizations. This…

Ella Anthony knew she had to leave Nigeria when, after escaping a forced abusive marriage, her relatives threatened to turn her in to police because she is gay. Nigeria criminalizes same-sex relationships, so Anthony faced possible prison. In 2014, she fled with her partner Doris to Libya and then Italy, where they both won asylum by claiming a well-founded fear of anti-LGBTQ+ persecution back home. While many migrants arrive in Italy escaping war, conflict and poverty, advocates say an increasing number are fleeing prison terms and death sentences in their countries due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite…

The Spanish government has approved a law ensuring access to healthcare for migrants residing in the country, including undocumented immigrants. This law also covers individuals who came to Spain through family reunification, asylum seekers, and beneficiaries of temporary protection. The new measure will take effect in a few weeks once published in the official journal. This move comes after universal healthcare access in Spain was restricted in 2012 by a law introduced by the conservative People’s Party. “We want to ban this health exclusion […] introduced in 2012” and “close this wound,” said the Minister of Health, Mónica García. Previously,…

The UK and Bangladesh have signed an agreement that will make it easier to deport Bangladeshi nationals from the UK back to their home country. This includes people convicted of crimes, those who have overstayed their visas, and rejected asylum seekers. According to The Telegraph newspaper, around 11,000 Bangladeshis entered the UK last year on student, worker, or visitor visas and later claimed asylum in Britain. However, the Refugee Council questioned this figure, stating that the government’s own data shows only about 5,500 asylum claims were lodged by Bangladeshis in 2023, including those who arrived irregularly and those who arrived…

Geert Wilders, the Dutch nationalist leader, and his far-right PVV party have seemingly struck a coalition deal with three other right-wing partners—VVD, NSC, and BBB—in the Netherlands. This coalition, expected to secure a parliamentary majority, signals a shift to the far-right, with significant implications for migrants and refugees. The four-party coalition, with a combined parliamentary majority of 88 out of 150 seats, intends to implement what they describe as the “strictest-ever asylum regime,” emphasizing stronger border controls and harsher rules for asylum seekers. Despite Wilders ruling himself out from the prime minister position, the coalition is poised to pursue radical…

A new alliance between NGOs operating on the mainland and at sea to support migrants, called the Freedom of Movement Solidarity Network, was presented in Rome on May 15th 2024. The network aims to provide assistance to individuals along migration routes, whether on roads, at sea, or in other challenging terrains. The launch event, held at the Foreign Press Association, featured representatives from various associations, including Baobab Experience, Bozen Solidale, and Sea-Watch, among others. Notable attendees included Piero Gorza, Andrea Costa, Alice Basiglini, and David Yambio. Andrea Costa, president of Baobab Experience, emphasized the importance of solidarity in supporting migrants,…