Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Sayed Abdellatif, an Egyptian refugee who sought asylum in Australia in May 2012 along with his wife and children, has finally been released from Australia’s immigration detention facilities. Despite Australia acknowledging his well-founded fear of persecution in his home country, Abdellatif was denied a visa due to questionable security assessments and held in detention for almost 12 years. During his time in detention, Abdellatif maintained his innocence regarding charges stemming from a discredited mass trial in Cairo in 1999, where evidence against him was obtained under torture. Despite efforts by his legal team to challenge the adverse security assessments made…

Every year, thousands of migrants embark on harrowing journeys from the Horn of Africa, braving the perilous waters of the Red Sea in search of better opportunities in Gulf countries. Regrettably, the UN migration agency deemed this route one of the “most dangerous migratory routes in the world.” It takes a heavy toll on those who dare traverse it, with Djibouti as a critical point of departure and transit. Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a heartbreaking incident off the coast of Djibouti, where a ship carrying migrants encountered distress, leading to the loss of at least 38…

Germany is facing significant hurdles in executing the Dublin Regulation, with only a fraction of attempted transfers of asylum seekers to other European Union countries proving successful. The Dublin Regulation mandates that asylum claims be processed in the first EU member state where a migrant is registered, sought protection, or entered. However, recent reports indicate that Germany’s efforts have fallen short. In 2023, Germany submitted 74,622 requests to other EU nations to accept migrants under the Dublin Regulation. Despite this high number of requests, only 5,053 individuals were transferred to other countries, according to figures reported by the German press…

The European Parliament is poised to vote on new laws concerning immigration and asylum, with various proposals sparking intense debate and division among lawmakers and stakeholders. The ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum,’ initially put forth by the European Commission in September 2020, aims to establish a unified approach to migration within the EU. Despite years of deliberation and negotiation, many aspects of the proposed pact remain contentious as the vote approaches on Wednesday (April 10, 2024). While efforts have been made to address tensions and disagreements among member states, significant opposition persists from NGOs, migrant charities, and rights organizations,…

In an ongoing Mediterranean migration drama, Bengali migrants emerge as a significant demographic. Their compelling stories underscore the multifaceted dynamics of contemporary migration. Despite Bangladesh’s relative stability without recent armed conflicts, Bengali migrants continue to brave the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean, seeking elusive opportunities in Europe. Joining a sea rescue mission conducted by Emergency NGO’s Life Support vessel in March, InfoMigrants encountered a predominant presence of Bengali migrants among those rescued. In a series of interviews, these migrants shared their experiences, offering glimpses into the motivations, struggles, and uncertainties that define their odyssey. Navigating through a maze of uncertainty,…

In a significant legal development, a Milan court has extended subsidiary protection to a 50-year-old Tunisian woman and her daughters, recognizing the severe risk they face if returned to Tunisia. The decision comes amidst concerns over potential torture and inhumane treatment due to the woman’s alleged involvement in unpaid debts, a charge vehemently denied by her. The court’s ruling sheds light on the woman’s tumultuous journey, which began with her participation in a political initiative following the Jasmine Revolution in 2011. Despite her lack of culpability, she was embroiled in a legal dispute demanding repayment of funds associated with the…

In the past 24 hours, the Italian coast guard has been actively rescuing migrants in distress in the Central Mediterranean. Two separate rescue operations resulted in 59 people being brought safely to shore, but sadly, nine individuals, including a young girl, were found dead. Adverse weather conditions made the rescues particularly challenging, with waves reaching at least 2.5 meters. One of the rescue operations took place about 30 miles southeast of Lampedusa, where the Italian coast guard retrieved 22 migrants from a boat, along with the bodies of the deceased. Despite the difficult conditions, all survivors were suffering from severe…

After eight years of negotiations, the European Parliament has approved a comprehensive reform of asylum policy in the European Union (EU). The newly approved migration pact comprises a set of interconnected laws designed to address various challenges related to migration within the bloc. One of the primary objectives of the migration pact is to reduce the number of new arrivals by implementing stricter border controls and streamlining asylum procedures. Under the new regulations, asylum-seekers and refugees entering the EU will undergo a clear identification process within seven days of arrival, whether by land, sea, or air. Their details will be…

In response to an unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has embarked on a diplomatic mission to Lebanon to tackle the island nation’s escalating migration challenges. The visit underscores Cyprus’s determination to seek collaborative solutions to the pressing issue of migration. As reported by Kathimerini, in the first three months of 2024 alone, more than 2,000 migrants arrived in Cyprus by sea, with an additional 800 migrants reaching the island in the initial days of April. These figures represent a significant increase compared to previous years, surpassing the total arrivals for 2022 and 2023 combined. Land and…

In an unprecedented surge of migration activity, 333 migrants reached the shores of Italy’s Lampedusa island between April 4 and 5, 2024, exacerbating the strain on the island’s already overstretched and overcrowded migrant hotspot. Despite concerted efforts to alleviate the overcrowding through rapid transfers of migrants to other facilities, the migrant population at the Lampedusa hotspot soared to 1,263 individuals by April 5, 2024, as confirmed by the Agrigento prefect’s office. Among them, 157 were identified as unaccompanied minors, underscoring the vulnerability of many of the arrivals. The territorial government office initiated three transfers on April 5, 2024, to address…