Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The European Union (EU) has confirmed that it has begun exploratory talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government to explore ways of returning failed asylum seekers from Europe to their home country. According to EU spokesperson Markus Lammert, the discussions are taking place at a technical level and are aimed at improving coordination among EU member states. He noted that the initiative seeks to find common ground on managing irregular migration while ensuring that all actions comply with international standards. The decision to establish contact with the Taliban follows a formal request by 20 EU member states, led by Belgium, urging Brussels…
An 87-year-old Syrian man, Jabra Yazbek, has been granted permission to move to the United Kingdom to live with his son after an immigration judge ruled that he was “desperately lonely” and unable to meet his care needs in Syria. Yazbek, a Christian widower from Latakia, had applied to join his son, a British citizen, who moved to the UK in 2010 for his studies. His application was initially rejected by the Home Office in March 2024, but the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber later overturned the decision on human rights grounds, citing exceptional circumstances. The tribunal heard that…
A 33-year-old Nigerian man, Lucius Njoku, has been found guilty of impersonating a woman to work as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, United Kingdom. Njoku used the identity of his friend, Joyce George, a female nurse, to secretly work for two months in the hospital’s accident and emergency department. Despite wearing a name badge with George’s photo, Njoku managed to work undetected until a patient confronted him about his identity. When asked who he was, Njoku reportedly responded, “My name is Joyce – but I am a man.” This unusual response prompted hospital staff…
For Rosa Bonilla, a Catholic pastoral assistant from Los Angeles, meeting Pope Leo XIV in Rome was a moment she will never forget. Her heart raced with emotion as she shook the Pope’s hand and thanked him for standing with migrants around the world. Bonilla, who works at Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights, joined the Jubilee of Migrants pilgrimage in Rome from October 1–8. An immigrant from El Salvador who came to the United States in 2001, she and her husband, Carlos, were part of a 100-person delegation from nearly 60 U.S. dioceses. The trip, organized by the National…
In Milan, Fondazione Progetto Arca is changing lives by providing a safe space for migrant women, children, and families escaping violence, discrimination, and poverty. Established in 1994 to help marginalized communities, the organization expanded in 2011 to support migrants and refugees, offering them safety, dignity, and a new beginning. One of the women who found sanctuary at Progetto Arca is Maryam from Guinea. Her journey took her across Africa—through Mali, Algeria, and Tunisia—before she finally crossed the Mediterranean to Italy in 2024. After arriving on the island of Lampedusa, she was transferred to Milan within 48 hours and found a…
The European Union (EU) has confirmed ongoing contact with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to address issues related to the return of Afghan migrants from Europe. The move highlights growing concerns across Europe about managing irregular migration while ensuring that human rights remain protected. According to the European Commission, the talks are part of broader efforts to improve coordination on migration and humanitarian issues. Officials said these discussions do not represent formal recognition of the Taliban but are meant to ensure that European countries can engage on practical matters concerning Afghan citizens abroad. Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021,…
The United Kingdom has deported 16 migrants to France in what has been described as the largest group return so far under the new “one in, one out” migration scheme. The initiative, launched on August 6, aims to balance the number of migrants entering and leaving the country as part of a bilateral agreement between London and Paris. This latest operation brings the total number of migrants sent back to France to 42, almost twice the number received by the UK under the reciprocal arrangement. However, more than 11,000 migrants have still managed to reach British shores since the scheme…
Canada has once again shown its commitment to supporting safe and humane migration by taking part in the launch of the Bangladesh Migration Snapshot 2024 and the Manual on Migration. The initiative was led by the Government of Bangladesh in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and several development partners. According to the High Commission of Canada in Dhaka, this effort is an important step toward creating a more effective and humane system for managing migration in Bangladesh. It focuses on using real data and practical policies to make migration safer and more organized. Through Immigration, Refugees and…
A Romanian migrant, Emil Burlacu, 35, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. The case, heard in a London court, revealed that Burlacu silenced the victim during the assaults and repeatedly threatened her not to speak out. According to police reports, the victim described feeling terrified and powerless during the repeated attacks. “He made me keep quiet,” she told officers, explaining that Burlacu used threats to ensure she remained silent. Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell said the young girl has been left “traumatised for the…
The West Bengal government has requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take urgent steps for the safe repatriation of 11 migrant workers from Murshidabad district who are currently stranded in Oman. Officials confirmed that the workers were reportedly deceived by a fraudulent recruitment agency and left without food, shelter, or financial assistance. According to a statement issued by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the stranded migrants faced severe hardships after being abandoned by the agency that had promised them legitimate employment opportunities. “Abandoned and without support, they were forced to wander from place to place in distress,” the statement…