Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Rescue teams in Italy are still searching for missing migrants after two overcrowded boats sank off the island of Lampedusa, leaving at least 27 people dead. The victims included three minors, among them a newborn baby, as well as seven women and 13 men. Most of the 60 survivors are from Somalia, while several others are from Egypt. Authorities fear that more than a dozen people remain unaccounted for. According to Italy’s coastguard, both boats left Tripoli, Libya, early on Wednesday. One of the boats reportedly began taking on water, forcing passengers to move to the second boat. This caused…

Residents of Waterlooville, a town in Hampshire, are celebrating after the UK Home Office decided to abandon plans to house asylum seekers in flats above a shop in the town centre. The news followed weeks of local protests and a petition signed by more than 10,000 people. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who represents the area, joined residents on the high street to mark the victory, calling it a win for “ordinary folk” who felt their voices were finally heard. The Home Office had planned to place 35 asylum seekers in the flats, but the idea faced strong opposition from…

Nigeria and the Republic of the Philippines have renewed their commitment to work together in strengthening labour migration, improving worker protection, and fighting human trafficking. This agreement was reached during a high-level meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and the Philippines’ Secretary of Migrant Workers, Hans Leo Cacdac. Yusuf Tuggar described the Philippines as a trusted and longstanding partner of Nigeria, recalling the valuable contributions of Filipino professionals to the country’s growth. He noted that since Nigeria’s independence, Filipino experts have played important roles in education, aviation, and the maritime industry. He said many Nigerians…

Migrants in Greece whose asylum claims are rejected will soon be required to wear ankle monitors as part of new government measures aimed at speeding up deportations. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced the plan on Monday, saying it is expected to be in place before the end of the year. The proposal is part of wider reforms that would also criminalize ignoring deportation orders. Speaking to state-run ERT radio, Plevris said the use of electronic tracking would send a clear signal that “the options have narrowed” for those ordered to leave. The stricter rules, which include mandatory prison sentences for…

Federal immigration officers arrested several migrant workers during a targeted raid at Lamell Lumber Corp. in Essex, Vermont, after a monthslong federal investigation. The action, which took place on Saturday, August 7, 2025, has drawn attention because workplace raids are not common in the state. According to Migrant Justice, a group that advocates for immigrant labour rights, the officers arrested three men. Will Lambek from the organization explained that most ICE arrests in Vermont typically happen in public spaces, not at workplaces. He called this operation a significant departure from the norm. The arrests came after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)…

President Donald Trump’s second term has brought a major shift in U.S. immigration enforcement. When he returned to office, he promised the largest mass deportation in American history, targeting over 10 million unauthorized migrants living in the country. Since then, new data reveals that border crossings have dropped sharply, arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have doubled, and the number of people in detention has reached a record high. NBC News has been tracking immigration enforcement using both public and internal ICE data, as well as figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Their findings are updated regularly…

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has sparked controversy after suggesting that the UK could set up migrant “camps” as an alternative to housing asylum seekers in hotels. Speaking in Epping, Essex, Badenoch argued that the current approach to migration was outdated and that Britain must adapt to “a changing world.” “Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities?” she asked, adding that the Conservative Party should engage local residents in shaping solutions to the migration crisis. The remarks come as the government faces mounting public anger over…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a significant change to its policy manual that could put many immigrants seeking legal status through family ties at greater risk of deportation. The update, reported by NBC News, closes off a pathway for some immigrants applying for green cards through a spouse or other family members, raising fears of family separation. The new guidance states that a family-based petition does not grant immigration status or prevent removal from the United States. In other words, even if an immigrant has a pending green card application based on a marriage or family relationship,…

Portugal’s Constitutional Court has stopped a new immigration bill that aimed to restrict the number of migrants entering the country. The decision came on August 8 after the court ruled that the bill could create barriers for family members of legally resident migrants, violating rights protected in the constitution. The bill, already approved by the country’s right-wing parliamentary majority, would have forced legally resident migrants to wait two years before requesting family reunification. Only highly skilled workers and investors with special permits would be exempt. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had earlier sent the bill to the court to check…

Thousands of migrant fruit pickers in Huelva, southern Spain, are reportedly living and working in harsh conditions despite the country’s strong economic performance. The strawberry fields of Huelva cover an estimated 11,000 hectares, but surrounding them are about 40 chabolas — makeshift slums that house many of the seasonal workers. According to Diego Cañamero, co-founder of the Andalusian Workers’ Union (Soc-Sat), around 40% of Huelva’s 100,000 seasonal labourers are undocumented. Without legal paperwork, these migrants cannot rent proper accommodation and are forced to live in shacks built from scraps collected at waste dumps. These shelters often lack running water and…