Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The UK government is preparing to move hundreds of asylum seekers into two military sites as part of efforts to reduce the use of hotels. According to reports, these new plans involve housing up to 900 men at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex. The move is part of a wider strategy to phase out asylum hotels by 2029, which have cost taxpayers billions and sparked protests across local communities. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had urged officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Defense to “go faster, go further” in finding…
Seeking asylum in the United Kingdom can be a life-changing step for people escaping war, persecution, or danger in their home countries. The asylum process can seem confusing, but understanding each stage makes it easier to prepare and know what to expect. This 2025 guide explains how to apply for asylum in the UK, what documents you need, and what happens after you apply. If you arrive in the UK and fear returning to your country because it’s unsafe, you have the right to ask for asylum. You must apply as soon as possible after entering the country. The process…
The Home Office has been accused of “squandering billions” of pounds in taxpayer money on asylum accommodation following a scathing report by the Home Affairs Committee. MPs said that poor planning, flawed contracts, and mismanagement have left the department struggling to deal with rising numbers of asylum seekers, forcing it to rely heavily on hotels as long-term housing. According to the report, the cost of asylum accommodation has tripled from an estimated £4.5 billion to more than £15 billion between 2019 and 2029. The committee criticized the Home Office for failing to recover millions in excess profits owed by private…
Greek authorities have started a large search-and-rescue operation off the island of Lesbos after seven migrants were rescued from the sea southwest of Cape Agrilia. The Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed the rescue on Monday, saying efforts are still ongoing to find anyone who might still be missing. According to the Coast Guard, two other people were found unresponsive during the operation. Emergency teams continue to search the area with the help of vessels, a helicopter, and land-based Coast Guard units to ensure no one is left behind. This latest incident highlights the dangerous journeys migrants continue to make across the…
The UK Home Office is preparing to move asylum seekers out of hotels and into pop-up modular buildings as part of a new plan to tackle the ongoing migrant housing crisis. According to Housing Secretary Steve Reed, the government will announce detailed plans “within weeks” as it seeks to end the use of hotels entirely. Reed said the new modular units—similar to those used to reduce prison overcrowding—can be built quickly and efficiently. Each unit would include en-suite bathrooms, a bed, and basic furniture. “You can use modular forms of building. That means it can go up much faster than…
A migrant man in Illinois who tried to self-deport to Mexico will now face trial in north suburban Chicago for allegedly concealing the death of a 37-year-old woman found in his backyard. Authorities say 52-year-old Jose Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged with hiding the death of Megan Bos, who was discovered inside a container at his home in Waukegan, Illinois. Police said Bos had been missing for several weeks before her remains were found. Investigators believe she may have died from a fentanyl overdose at Mendoza-Gonzalez’s residence. The accused, who federal authorities confirmed is in the United States illegally, has also been…
An Albanian migrant, once convicted of drug dealing, has won his asylum appeal to remain in the United Kingdom after a judge ruled that he has shown genuine remorse and turned his life around. The decision has sparked discussions about how rehabilitation and family life affect deportation rulings in the UK immigration system. Arlind Nabolli, 29, was found guilty of dealing cocaine and cannabis in Maidstone, Kent, and sentenced to more than two years in prison. Authorities described him as a “serious threat to the public” due to repeated drug-related activities. However, Nabolli insisted that he had “learnt his lesson”…
Thai Union Group PCL, a global seafood leader, has launched an inspiring initiative called the Migrant Health Volunteer Program to improve access to inclusive healthcare for migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The program, developed in partnership with the Samut Sakhon Provincial Public Health Office, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University, and the Proud Association, focuses on training migrant workers to serve as health volunteers and community health advocates. Launched in September 2024, the program has already trained 109 migrant workers who live and work in Samut Sakhon. These volunteers were equipped with essential knowledge in preventive care,…
Saudi Arabia has officially ended its decades-old Kafala (sponsorship) system, marking a historic shift in labour rights across the Gulf. The reform, announced in June 2025 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan, is set to improve the lives of over 10 million migrant workers, including more than 2.5 million Indians who make up one of the largest foreign communities in the Kingdom. For decades, the Kafala system tied migrant workers’ legal status to their employers, who acted as sponsors controlling their visas, residency, and job mobility. Under this system, workers needed their employer’s consent to…
Germany may not meet its promise to tighten migration laws this year to make it easier to prosecute small-boat smugglers, raising doubts over its commitment to help the UK tackle illegal Channel crossings. A BBC report revealed that Germany’s Interior Ministry now only plans to introduce a bill to parliament by the end of 2025, without confirming when it will be fully approved. Currently, facilitating people-smuggling to a non-EU country, like the UK after Brexit, is not technically illegal in Germany. This loophole has allowed smugglers to use the country as a hub to store boats and engines used for…