Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The number of licences that allow companies to bring in migrant workers has more than doubled in the past year, according to new government data. The sharp increase reflects tougher action by the Home Office against firms accused of abusing the immigration system. In the year to June 2025, 1,948 licences were cancelled, compared with 937 in the previous 12 months. Officials said the main reasons included underpaying migrant workers, exploiting them in poor working conditions, and using the visa system to help people bypass immigration rules. Employers in adult social care, hospitality, retail, and construction were found to be…
A migrant camp in Ventimiglia, on the Italian-French border, was demolished on Wednesday after a recent shooting left two migrants injured. The dismantling was ordered by Mayor Flavio Di Muro, who said the action was necessary to guarantee security in the city. The camp was located along the banks of the Roya River, a known gathering spot for migrants trying to cross into France. Tensions escalated during the night of September 6 to 7 when gunfire broke out near the encampment, injuring two Tunisian migrants aged 18 and 30. One of the victims suffered serious injuries after a bullet hit…
At least four migrants have died and several others are missing after two separate tragedies in the English Channel within just two days. These deaths highlight the serious dangers that people face when attempting to cross one of the busiest and most dangerous waterways in the world to reach the United Kingdom. Authorities in northern France confirmed that three migrants died overnight while trying to cross from Pas-de-Calais. Rescue teams were able to save one person, but at least three others are still unaccounted for and feared to have drowned. The search for survivors continues, though officials say survival becomes…
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has removed Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from her frontbench after the senator refused to apologise for controversial remarks about Indian migrants. The decision, announced on Wednesday night, followed days of growing criticism and pressure both within and outside the Liberal Party. Ley said she acted because Price had failed to uphold the standards expected of her role. “Despite being given sufficient time and space to do so, Senator Nampijinpa Price failed to apologise for remarks which have caused Australians of Indian heritage significant hurt,” Ley explained. She added that Price also did not provide confidence in…
A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has raised serious concerns about how the Biden administration has handled the placement of migrant children. According to the report, thousands of children were placed with unvetted sponsors, often in violation of established protocols meant to protect their safety. The findings, released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, revealed that over 11,000 migrant children were placed with adults who were neither their parents nor legal guardians. The report also noted that HHS failed to carry out home studies for more than 79,000 children under the age…
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand its Immigrant Legal Defense Program to cover unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring they will not have to face immigration court proceedings without legal support. The vote, which passed 4-1 on Tuesday, marks a significant step in addressing the urgent need for representation for vulnerable children navigating the complex immigration system. The Immigrant Legal Defense Program was first introduced in 2021 to provide legal assistance for immigrants facing court proceedings. With the new expansion, unaccompanied migrant children in San Diego County will now receive the same protection. Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer…
Hundreds of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia have gone unpaid for as long as eight months, raising serious concerns about labour rights and protections in the country. According to Human Rights Watch, the affected workers were employed by Sendan International, a manufacturing and supply company, including on projects for the state-owned oil giant Aramco. Many of these workers, who came from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, were left stranded without pay, forced into undocumented status, or compelled to return home at their own expense, leaving behind unpaid wages and benefits. This crisis comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing…
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new anti-migrant operation in Chicago, raising concerns among immigrant communities and rights activists. The initiative, called Operation Midway Blitz, is being carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against so-called “sanctuary cities.” According to the DHS, the operation was named in memory of Katherine Abraham, a 20-year-old Illinois woman who was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant accused of drunk driving. Federal officials say the move is part of their mission to make sure “no city is a safe haven for…
Canada is facing strong pressure to reform or even cancel its temporary foreign worker programme, with political leaders from different parties calling for urgent changes. British Columbia Premier David Eby has raised serious concerns about the system, saying it has long been open to abuse and fraud. His comments have added to the growing debate about how Prime Minister Mark Carney will reshape Canada’s immigration and labour policies in the coming months. Speaking at a press conference in Surrey, a city in British Columbia where more than 40 percent of the population are immigrants, Eby said the current system is…
Malaysia has restated its firm commitment to strengthening the rights and welfare of migrant workers across Southeast Asia, stressing that they remain a key driving force behind regional economic and social development. The pledge was made by Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources, during the opening of the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Azman highlighted that an estimated seven million intra-ASEAN migrant workers contribute to building stronger economies and supporting social progress in the region. He described migrant workers as the “lifeblood” of ASEAN nations,…