Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
More than 70 migrant job seekers are currently sleeping in Gullino Park, located in the town of Saluzzo in northern Italy’s Piedmont region. These individuals, mostly from African countries, have arrived in search of seasonal work in the fruit-picking industry. Their growing presence and lack of shelter have sparked concern from both residents and local authorities, prompting an emergency community meeting on July 17. The meeting, held at the office of the prefect, brought together a wide range of stakeholders. Prefect Mariano Savastano chaired the discussion, which included local government officials, social service organizations, and aid groups such as the…
Tensions escalated in the early hours of Friday as French riot police clashed with a group of migrants in the northern coastal town of Gravelines. The confrontation unfolded around 5:30 a.m., involving stone-throwing and street fires near a local park. The incident highlights the rising strain on coastal towns in France amid the continued surge in migrant attempts to cross the English Channel into the UK. Footage captured by reporters on the scene showed several migrants—some wearing life jackets—hurling rocks at riot officers from a distance. In response, the Gendarmerie and Police Nationale deployed tear gas and formed shielded lines…
Germany has joined the UK in a major agreement to fight illegal migration, signing a new treaty that allows German police to confiscate small boats used to smuggle migrants across the English Channel. The treaty, signed on July 17, marks a shift in Germany’s laws and support for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pledge to tackle human trafficking. Before this new deal, smuggling people to non-EU countries like the UK wasn’t a criminal offense under German law. That legal loophole made it hard for German police to act against traffickers sending boats across the Channel. But under the new pact,…
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister, Yolanda Díaz, has made a strong call for the immediate legal regularization of 500,000 immigrants living in Spain. Her statement came after four days of violent clashes between far-right activists and North African migrants in the southern town of Torre Pacheco. Speaking to public broadcaster TVE on July 16, Díaz called on Spain’s Congress to urgently pass a law to formalize the status of these undocumented migrants. She condemned the violence in Torre Pacheco and placed the blame squarely on the far-right and the conservative People’s Party (PP), accusing them of fueling xenophobic…
The government of Sikkim has issued a directive to all companies in the state to provide proper housing, regular wages, and health support for migrant workers. This move is aimed at improving the living and working conditions of around 50,000 migrant employees working across various industries in the Himalayan state. Labour Secretary Bhim Thatal emphasized that all employers must comply with the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Rules of 1979, which require companies to provide suitable accommodation for their workers. He noted that many migrants currently live in crowded and poor conditions, which negatively impact their mental and physical health. The state…
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested bringing the historic Alcatraz prison back to life. His goal is to use the facility to detain violent criminals and undocumented migrants who are awaiting deportation. This idea, which he first mentioned in May, is now being seriously considered by top members of his team. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a press briefing that the plan is no longer just an idea. According to her, Trump told his officials to visit the site and check if the prison could be reopened. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of the…
Poland has expanded the powers of its soldiers guarding the eastern border following an increase in violent attacks by illegal migrants. Recent videos on social media showed migrants throwing petrol bombs at Polish troops stationed along the Belarus frontier. The move comes two months after the government launched a new campaign to reduce illegal migration into the country. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the attacks were becoming more dangerous, with migrants now using stones and flammable liquids as weapons. He called these acts direct threats to national security, stating, “Every such attack is an attack on…
Indonesia is taking a bold step to improve access to jobs in Europe for its migrant workers through a strategic trade mission. Christina Aryani, Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, described this move as a way to promote service exports while creating more professional opportunities abroad for Indonesians. The trade mission is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, with both ministries agreeing to work closely on expanding job placements overseas. A business meeting is scheduled for August or September 2025 to explore sectors with strong demand for Indonesian workers. Christina explained that the initial…
Between January and July 15, 2025, the Malaysian Marine Police Force (PPM) seized smuggled goods worth over RM419.5 million and arrested 1,254 individuals, most of whom were involved in migrant smuggling. This growing issue has become the top crime along Malaysia’s coastal regions. Senior Assistant Commissioner Shamsol Kassim, who leads the PPM at Bukit Aman, revealed that during this period, authorities recorded 5,293 criminal cases. Of those arrested, 650 were Malaysian citizens, while 604 were foreigners involved in various maritime offences. The illegal activities were committed under a range of laws, including the Immigration Act, Customs Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons…
Twenty public prosecutors in Libya have completed a five-day training program focused on stopping human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The training took place at the Criminal Research and Training Centre in Tripoli. The program was organized with help from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). These international partners worked with Libyan officials to share knowledge and tools for fighting organized crime. During the training, experts discussed how human trafficking and migrant smuggling are linked. They talked about the challenges involved in these crimes and how prosecutors can identify and support…