Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The Catholic Church has opened a new support centre for migrants and displaced families in Bengaluru, the capital of India’s Karnataka state. The Pope Francis Migrant Centre was inaugurated on December 3 as part of efforts to provide care, protection, and hope for migrants arriving in the city in search of a better life. The centre was formally opened by Cardinal Silvano Tomasi and launched in partnership with the Scalabrinian Missionaries, an order with a long history of working with migrants worldwide. It is located near Yeshwantpur Railway Station, a key arrival point for many migrants entering Bengaluru every day.…

The European Union’s plan to create a shared system for returning migrants who fail asylum checks is unlikely to be fully implemented, despite growing political pressure across the bloc. While EU leaders have agreed in principle on tougher migration rules, deep divisions, legal challenges, and human rights concerns continue to threaten the plan’s future. The proposed EU-wide migrant returns plan is partly driven by the rise of far-right movements across Europe. These groups often frame migration as a major threat to European identity, security, and economic stability. This narrative has gained traction in recent years, even as Europe struggles with…

European justice ministers have agreed to push forward reforms aimed at changing how Europe’s main human rights treaty is applied, as governments seek stronger tools to deal with illegal migration. The agreement was reached during a meeting in Strasbourg, where concerns were raised about how existing human rights rules affect deportation and asylum decisions. Countries that are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) agreed to begin work on a political declaration that could reshape how the treaty is interpreted in practice. This declaration is expected to be discussed further at a summit scheduled for May next year.…

Claims have emerged that some migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats are being exploited by criminal gangs to smuggle drugs into Britain. According to an investigation by UK media, people smugglers are allegedly offering cut-price crossings to migrants who agree to carry cocaine or heroin into the country. The reports suggest that migrants are pressured to swallow small packages of drugs before boarding boats from northern France to England. In return, they are promised cheaper or so-called “VIP” crossings, sometimes placed on boats carrying women and children because these are believed to attract less attention from authorities. Once…

The Bahamas government has removed a controversial immunity provision from the Smuggling of Migrants Bill after strong criticism from opposition parties and civic groups. The clause would have protected smuggled migrants from prosecution for illegal entry, illegal stay, or the use of false documents if those actions resulted directly from being smuggled. The bill was passed in the House of Assembly after the governing Progressive Liberal Party backed away from the provision. Critics had argued that keeping the clause would weaken immigration enforcement and send the wrong message at a time of growing concern over illegal migration. National Security Minister…

A federal judge in the United States has called for testimony from a former Justice Department lawyer in an inquiry connected to the deportation of Venezuelan migrants. The case could result in criminal contempt referrals against officials from the Trump administration. Judge James E. Boasberg said he wants to hear from Erez Reuveni, a former Justice Department attorney who later became a whistleblower. The inquiry is examining whether senior officials ignored a court order related to migrant removal flights. At the centre of the case are two aircraft carrying Venezuelan detainees that were reportedly allowed to continue to El Salvador…

The Iraqi Embassy in Tripoli has announced the return of 12 Iraqi migrants who entered Libya through illegal routes. The confirmation was made by the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, as part of ongoing efforts to support stranded Iraqi nationals in the country. According to the embassy, the repatriation followed close monitoring of the situation of Iraqi migrants in Libya. Many of these migrants are believed to have taken dangerous journeys in search of work or onward travel, often relying on smuggling networks. During its recent checks, the embassy reported locating 19 additional Iraqi migrants. These individuals were reportedly exploited…

The UK and French governments are facing growing criticism for failing to deal with anti-migrant activists who travel from Britain to northern France to interfere with migrants attempting to cross the Channel. Aid groups say the lack of action is allowing intimidation, harassment, and xenophobic behaviour to spread unchecked. In a rare joint move, nine French organisations that work closely with migrants in northern France released a statement condemning both governments. They accused the authorities of not doing enough to prevent British activists from targeting migrants camped along the coast. One of the groups at the centre of the controversy…

A tragic incident off the Greek island of Samos has left a 12-year-old migrant boy dead after a human trafficker allegedly forced passengers to jump from a speeding boat. The incident happened in the early hours of Monday as the vessel approached the island’s northern coast near the area of Svala. According to local reports, the speedboat was carrying 37 migrants when the smuggler ordered everyone on board to jump into the sea. During the chaos, the young boy was struck by the boat’s propeller as the trafficker attempted to flee, leading to fatal injuries. Authorities have not yet released…

A large enforcement operation in Selayang Baru, Malaysia, has led to the detention of 843 undocumented migrants after a tense overnight raid carried out on Saturday. The operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and mounting complaints from residents about overcrowding and the rapid growth of informal roadside businesses. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was present during the operation and later addressed the media. He explained that those detained included 808 men and 35 women aged between 21 and 53. The individuals were from several countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. According to Amirudin, the crackdown…