Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The Trump administration has issued a strong warning to Americans who sponsor migrants, saying they could face serious legal and financial consequences if the migrants they support rely on taxpayer-funded benefits. According to a memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, sponsors may now be subject to steep fines, lawsuits, or even criminal charges. Family-based immigrants in the United States generally require a citizen or permanent resident to act as a sponsor when applying for a green card. By signing the sponsorship agreement, the sponsor promises to provide financial support to ensure the migrant does not depend on public…
A new report by the Work Rights Centre (WoRC) has raised serious concerns that migrant construction workers in the UK could face high risks of exploitation, similar to those already reported in the social care sector. The warning comes after the Government announced plans to expand access to migrant construction workers through the new Temporary Shortage List. The policy briefing highlights that while the UK Government has committed £625 million to train 60,000 skilled construction workers by 2029, an additional 240,000 workers will still be needed in the next five years to meet housebuilding goals. To fill the gap, ministers…
The European Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to strengthen Europol’s powers in tackling migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The new deal will expand the role of the EU’s policing agency, giving it stronger tools to support member states and improve cooperation. Under the agreement, Europol will be able to share more detailed information with national authorities to combat organized crime and terrorism. A European center against migrant smuggling will also be established within Europol, acting as a permanent structure to provide strategic, operational, and technical support. The center will not only focus on breaking smuggling networks…
A proposal to block the use of hotels for migrant accommodation in Warrington has been defeated after a heated council debate. The motion, brought forward by Conservative councillor Rob Tynan, was voted down by 46 votes to three. The motion had called for legal advice on injunctions to prevent hotels in Woolston and Grappenhall, including the Holiday Inn and Fir Grove Hotel, from being used to house migrants. Tynan said many residents were frustrated that decisions were made without consultation, arguing that local services were already under pressure. Seconded by Reform UK councillor John Roddy, the motion also demanded the…
Thousands of people gathered in Taiwan for the first Church-sponsored Conference for Migrant Workers and Immigrants, calling for stronger care and pastoral support for migrants. The national event took place at the Taoyuan Arena in the Diocese of Hsinchu on September 21, with around 8,000 participants, mostly migrants and itinerant people. The gathering aimed to create a concrete pastoral plan that will help improve the lives of migrants in Taiwan. It also served as an expression of gratitude for their daily contributions to the growth and development of Taiwanese society. More than 400 clergy members, including archbishops, bishops, religious leaders,…
A migrant detainee has died after a gunman opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas. The attacker, who fired multiple shots from the roof of a nearby building, later died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities say the incident is being treated as a targeted act of violence. According to officials, the shooting began around 7 a.m. when the suspect aimed at the ICE field office. One migrant was killed, while another person was seriously injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Initial reports had suggested that two detainees were killed, but…
The UK has welcomed its first arrivals under the new one-in-one-out migrant deal with France. The family, made up of two adults and a young child, entered the country this week after the removal of four migrants from Britain. The Home Office described the move as part of the “critical first steps” in putting the agreement into action. The deal, signed in the summer by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, is designed to create a controlled system for managing migration across the English Channel. Under the scheme, migrants who crossed into the UK without permission can…
The UK and France signed a one-in-one-out migrant deal in July 2024 to control the flow of people crossing the English Channel in small boats. But so far, only four men have been deported back to France under this agreement. This is far less than the target of 50 migrants per week set when the deal was first announced. The scheme was meant to cut down the number of people making dangerous journeys from France to the UK, but early results show it has had very little impact. Under the deal, France accepts asylum seekers who crossed into the UK…
An Ethiopian asylum seeker jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman in Epping may not be deported immediately, despite new legal powers meant to fast-track removals. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for five offences, including sexual assault and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. He had arrived in the UK by small boat just days before the attacks in July. His arrest triggered large anti-migrant protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was staying, and later sparked demonstrations across the UK. The Home Office recently introduced powers…
Greek authorities have rescued 145 migrants in just 24 hours south of the island of Gavdos, near Crete, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that Crete and Gavdos together have received more than one-third of all migrant arrivals in Greece so far this year, highlighting the growing strain on the islands. On Tuesday morning, a coast guard patrol boat supported by a Frontex drone rescued 36 migrants from a boat and transferred them to the port of Sfakia. A day earlier, a Frontex vessel and a passing ship saved 43 people from a dinghy…