Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Immigration to the Netherlands declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, with fewer skilled labour migrants and asylum seekers arriving in the country, according to new figures released by the Dutch statistics office. Official data show that 309,000 people immigrated to the Netherlands in 2025, representing a decrease of 8,000 compared with the previous year. The decline marks the continuation of a downward trend after immigration had risen almost continuously between 2006 and 2022. The statistics examined the main reasons people moved to the Netherlands, including employment, asylum, family reunification, and higher education. One of the sharpest declines was…

Plans to expand the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in Gosport, Hampshire, by adding 470 detention beds have been criticised by the area’s Member of Parliament, who says the revised proposal gives residents too little say over the development. The Home Office has submitted plans to the Planning Inspectorate to build additional accommodation at the former Haslar IRC, arguing that the expansion is a project of national importance. The move means the application will be determined through the national planning process rather than by Gosport Borough Council. The existing Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, which closed in 2015, is currently being…

Airbus has forecast that demand for air travel in Europe will nearly double over the next two decades, with international migration, rising incomes, and expanding global middle-class populations expected to be among the main drivers of passenger growth. According to the aircraft manufacturer’s 2026 Global Market Forecast, Europe’s growing migrant population is increasing demand for international flights, particularly journeys made by people travelling to visit friends and relatives in their countries of origin. Airbus said there were around 108 million foreign-born residents living in Europe in 2024, representing a 60% increase compared with 2000, based on United Nations data. The…

A scheduled meeting between Ghanaian President John Mahama and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been postponed amid growing diplomatic tensions linked to recent anti-migrant violence in South Africa. The Ghanaian government confirmed the postponement on Tuesday, citing concerns over protests in South Africa that have targeted foreign nationals. While many demonstrations have been peaceful, some incidents have reportedly turned violent, raising concerns about the safety of Ghanaian citizens and other African migrants living in the country. The decision comes as anti-migrant sentiment continues to generate diplomatic concern across the continent. Ghana has expressed unease over the treatment of its…

Greek authorities have arrested eight people suspected of migrant smuggling during a series of operations near the country’s northeastern border with Turkey, where dozens of migrants were found being transported in overcrowded vehicles. According to police, the arrests were made over the past three days in the Evros border region. The suspects were allegedly transporting a total of 40 migrants who had recently crossed into Greece through irregular routes before attempting to travel further into the country. Authorities said two of the vehicles involved in the operations crashed, leaving several migrants injured. In one incident, a car overturned in the…

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has commended Bangladesh for its leadership in promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the country on migration governance and migrant protection. The remarks were made by Dr. Laura Tomm Bonde, the newly appointed Chief of Mission for IOM Bangladesh, during a courtesy visit to Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Choudhury, in Dhaka. During the meeting, Bonde congratulated Bangladesh for its role as one of the champion countries implementing the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. She praised the…

Pope Leo has called on European leaders to adopt stronger and more compassionate migration policies, urging countries across the continent to do more to protect, support, and integrate migrants arriving in Europe. The Pope appealed during a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, one of the main entry points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa. The island has become a symbol of Europe’s migration challenge, receiving thousands of people who make the dangerous journey from countries such as Libya and Tunisia in search of safety and better opportunities. Speaking to a gathering of worshippers, Pope Leo…

Nigeria has accused South Africa of failing to protect foreign nationals after two Nigerian citizens were killed amid growing anti-migrant sentiment in the country. The Nigerian government said the deaths occurred during a period when foreigners have increasingly become targets of hostility and violence. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria identified the victims as Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe. The government said Iroegbu was reportedly killed on June 28 by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police Department in Pretoria during what it described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.” Joe, a Nigerian shop owner, was…

People often use the terms migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker as if they mean the same thing. However, each term has a different legal meaning and describes a different situation. Understanding these differences is important because they determine the rights people have, the protection they can receive, and the responsibilities governments have under international law. As global migration continues to increase because of conflict, persecution, climate change, economic hardship, and political instability, knowing these definitions helps create a better understanding of the challenges faced by millions of people around the world. What is a migrant? A migrant is a person…

French authorities have placed a 36-year-old Syrian man in pre-trial detention after accusing him of leading a large migrant smuggling network that allegedly transported hundreds of people from the Middle East to France through South America. According to the public prosecutor’s office in Épinal, eastern France, the investigation began in October 2025 after the anti-smuggling unit in Metz received intelligence about a suspected international smuggling operation. Investigators believe the network moved migrants from Syria through Turkey, Venezuela, and Brazil before taking them to French Guiana and eventually mainland France. Prosecutor Frédéric Nahon said preliminary findings suggest the suspect, who lives…