Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The European Union has stated that migrant workers are essential in filling job shortages and supporting economic growth across Europe. This comes after the European Commission released new employment data showing how migrants are helping Europe move closer to its 2030 employment goals. According to the Commission’s Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2025 report, migrant labour has become a major force driving job creation in the region. The EU is aiming for a 78% employment rate among adults aged 20 to 64, and this target is now more achievable partly because of migrant workers. The report shows that more…

A man from Wicklow has appeared in Bray District Court after being accused of posting false information online about a migrant. The man, identified as 44-year-old Kirk Loco of Waverley Meadow in Broomhall, was charged after he allegedly created and shared a fake post claiming a migrant had behaved indecently on public transport. However, Gardaí confirmed that the claims made in the post were completely false. According to the case presented in court, the post included a picture of a man sleeping on a bus. The message that went with the picture falsely accused the man of exposing himself to…

A 22-year-old Kurdish man from Iraqi Kurdistan has died in a Libyan detention center after suffering from starvation and illness. The young man, named Hogr Aso, left his hometown in Sulaimaniyah province on August 31 in search of a better life in Europe. His body has now been returned to Iraq, leaving his family devastated and raising concerns about the treatment of migrants held in Libya. Hogr’s father said his son decided to leave because of unemployment and hopelessness. He traveled legally to Libya through Egypt, but Libyan guards detained him soon after his arrival. According to his father, Hogr…

Iran’s parliament has taken a major step toward establishing a National Migration Organization to manage and organize the affairs of migrants and foreign nationals living in the country. During a session on Monday, November 3, members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly approved the first two articles of the proposed bill. The main goal is to create a centralized institution that will coordinate all migration-related policies across the country. Lawmakers believe that the current system, which involves multiple agencies and ministries, has created confusion and made it difficult to plan effectively. The new organization is expected to bring all management, registration,…

A Dutch court has begun the trial of an Eritrean man accused of leading a brutal migrant smuggling network that targeted people fleeing East Africa. The man, known as Tewelde Goitom or by the name Amanuel Walid, is suspected of running a trafficking operation that brought migrants to Europe under severe and dangerous conditions. Prosecutors say Goitom helped control routes where people were taken from East Africa to Libya and then toward Europe. They claim migrants were trapped in camps in Libya, where their relatives were forced to send large sums of money to secure their release. Many families faced…

Finland is seeing a rise in fear among undocumented migrants as the country’s right-wing government continues to tighten immigration rules. Since 2023, Finland has made it harder to get asylum, residence permits, and family reunification. These changes have led to more deportations and a drop in both work-based immigration and successful asylum approvals. From January to September 2025, about 2,070 foreign nationals were deported from Finland. This is 30% more than during the same period in 2024. Officials say they are now checking more carefully whether migrants have the legal right to stay in the country. If they do not,…

The mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, a 38-year-old migrant from Ethiopia convicted of sexual assault, has caused major controversy in the UK. Kebatu had been sentenced for assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman while staying in an asylum seeker hotel. Instead of being held for deportation, he was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford due to what officials described as “human error.” The incident triggered a nationwide manhunt. CCTV footage showed him moving through Chelmsford, then into parts of east London, including Stratford and Dalston. He was arrested in Finsbury Park on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Kebatu later claimed he…

A coalition of migration organizations in Italy, known as Tavolo Asilo e Immigrazione (TAI), has renewed criticism of the Italian government’s decision to process migrants in centers located in Albania. The group said that most migrants sent to these centers end up returning to Italy instead of being repatriated to their home countries. Members of the coalition, along with lawmakers from Italy and representatives from the European Parliament, visited the repatriation center in Gjader on October 28. After the visit, they said the system is failing and raised concerns about whether the detentions have a legal basis. Several opposition politicians…

The Indonesian government is planning a new initiative to involve former migrant workers in Red and White Village Cooperatives across the country. The plan is being coordinated between the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection. The goal is to give returning migrant workers a chance to use their skills to support economic development in their home communities. Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono explained that many Indonesians who work abroad gain valuable experience in business, technical skills, and international work culture. He believes that when they return home, these skills can help strengthen local cooperatives and small business…

Across many countries, xenophobia and racism against undocumented migrants continue to rise, leading to violence, discrimination, and social division. This issue is seen in regions such as South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom, where foreign nationals are often blamed for economic hardship and social challenges. The growing hostility is fueled by political speeches, economic struggles, and social inequality, making life for undocumented migrants increasingly difficult. In South Africa, attacks on foreign nationals have been repeated over the years, especially during election seasons when leaders accuse migrants of taking jobs or increasing crime. Studies show that high unemployment…