Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Only a small number of churches in South Korea are actively working with migrants, even though the country’s foreign population is growing quickly. A new national survey shows that just 12 percent of Korean churches are currently involved in ministry for migrants. The survey was released by the Mokhoi Data Research Institute and reported by Christian Daily Korea. It found that while direct involvement is still low, interest in migrant ministry is rising. Among churches already serving migrants, 86 percent said they plan to expand their work in the future. South Korea is now home to about 2.58 million foreign…

Belgium is making its asylum and migration policies stricter at a time when the country is facing serious worker shortages and a rapidly aging population. Experts say this creates a major contradiction between political decisions and economic needs. The Belgian government has described its new approach as the “strictest asylum and migration policy ever.” Officials say the goal is to reduce the number of asylum seekers, cut reception costs, and strengthen control over migration. However, economists warn that limiting migration could make it harder for Belgium to fill important jobs in the future. Since 2025, Belgium has introduced several tough…

A new report has raised serious concerns about how migrants are treated under the UK-France deportation agreement. Inspectors found that many migrants removed from the UK did not receive proper translator support, legal advice, or clear information about what would happen to them after deportation. The findings come from the first official inspection of the “one-in, one-out” migration scheme between the United Kingdom and France. Under this deal, migrants who arrive in the UK by small boats can be sent back to France, while the UK accepts an equal number of migrants through a legal route. According to the report,…

India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has started an investigation into reports that 14 migrant workers from Jharkhand are stranded in Dubai. The Commission took action on its own after media reports raised concerns about the workers’ safety and rights. According to NHRC, the workers are from three districts in Jharkhand — Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Bokaro. They reportedly travelled to Dubai for jobs but are now facing serious difficulties. The workers have alleged that their passports were taken away, their wages have not been paid, and they are not being allowed to return to India. These claims have raised concerns…

At least 53 migrants are believed to have died after a small boat capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The tragedy happened over the weekend and is one of the deadliest incidents reported so far this year on the Central Mediterranean migration route. The rubber boat was carrying 55 people when it overturned in the Mediterranean Sea just north of Zuwara in northwest Libya. The incident took place shortly before midnight between February 5 and February 6. Only two people are believed to have survived the disaster. The two survivors are Nigerian…

Fifty-six civil society organizations have signed a joint statement criticizing Greece’s proposed changes to its immigration code. As the Greek parliament begins debating the new bill, the groups say the law could criminalize humanitarian work and make it harder for organizations to support migrants and refugees. The draft law was introduced by the Greek Ministry of Immigration and is presented as a measure to strengthen legal migration policies and fight migrant smuggling. However, many non-governmental organizations argue that some parts of the proposal directly target their activities and could expose aid workers to serious criminal charges. One of the most…

Federal prosecutors in the United States are raising concerns that a sharp rise in migrant detention court cases is putting heavy pressure on government legal resources. Six US attorneys said a “flood” of legal challenges filed by detained migrants has forced their offices to shift focus away from other important cases. The warnings were included in formal declarations filed in December at the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The prosecutors said their offices received 534 habeas corpus petitions between July and December. These petitions are legal requests from detained migrants asking federal courts to review whether their…

The Crossway project has officially launched in Madrid to improve mental health support for migrants and refugees living across Europe. The initiative is being hosted under the framework of the Autonomous University of Madrid and brings together experts, civil society groups, and public institutions from several European countries. The project focuses especially on vulnerable groups, including young Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their homes because of the war. Organizers say many displaced young people struggle with stress, identity loss, and uncertainty about the future, making structured mental health support more important than ever. The Association of Ukrainians in…

The UK Home Office has launched an investigation into reports that some asylum seekers housed at the Crowborough Training Camp in Sussex may be leaving the site and travelling to London. Officials say the matter will be reviewed urgently as part of ongoing monitoring of the facility. Home Office minister Mike Tapp said he had not personally received confirmed reports but stressed that such behaviour would not be acceptable if proven. He explained that strict procedures are in place at the site, including round-the-clock security, CCTV monitoring, and a system requiring residents to sign in and out when entering or…

The United Kingdom has reached new agreements with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Angola to accept the return of their nationals who entered the UK irregularly. The deals came after the British government warned that countries refusing to cooperate could face visa penalties. The Democratic Republic of Congo became the latest country to agree to the arrangement. The UK had earlier suspended fast-track visa services for Congolese nationals and removed special visa privileges for diplomats and senior officials. These steps were part of wider pressure aimed at encouraging cooperation on migrant returns. Namibia and Angola had already agreed…