Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
An Ecuadorian migrant could spend up to a year behind bars after becoming the first person convicted of illegally crossing into a newly established U.S. military zone along the southern border in Texas. Dario Javier Trejo-Burbano was found guilty this week on two federal charges: improper entry by an alien and entering restricted military property. Each charge carries a sentence of up to six months in prison, meaning Trejo-Burbano could face a full year behind bars, along with fines. The case marks a significant moment in President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policy, which this year introduced National Defense Areas along…
A migrant and his small dog have been rescued after spending three days adrift in a rubber dinghy in the English Channel. The man, who identified himself as Barry and is believed to be from Afghanistan, was picked up off the coast of East Sussex on Wednesday night after firing a red distress flare. The dramatic rescue began around 6:30 p.m. when emergency services spotted the flare and launched a large-scale operation. Rescue teams, including lifeboats from Shoreham and Brighton, a Coastguard helicopter, and shore teams from Newhaven, were deployed to locate the vessel. Barry and his dog, which he…
As pressure from the UK mounts, France is considering a controversial plan to stop migrant boats in its shallow coastal waters before they head toward Britain. The proposal, currently under government review, could mark a major shift in French migration enforcement, raising serious questions about legality and safety. For years, France has been a key departure point for migrants hoping to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel in small, often overcrowded rubber boats. These journeys, arranged by smugglers for thousands of euros, are extremely risky and sometimes fatal. Until now, French authorities have only intervened on land, with…
A haunting tragedy unfolded off the coast of Libya as at least 60 migrants, including nationals from Pakistan and Egypt, are feared dead following two separate shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea. The incidents, reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are the latest in a growing list of deadly crossings that continue to claim lives along one of the world’s most perilous migration routes. The first disaster occurred on June 12 near the Libyan port city of Tripoli. According to the IOM, the boat capsized with 26 people on board. Only five survivors were rescued. The remaining 21, including…
Imagine waking up tomorrow and being told you have to leave your home—not for vacation, not for work—but because staying would mean risking your life. No time to pack. No guarantee of safety. Just the hope that somewhere else might be better. This is the reality for millions of people across the world. Migration isn’t just a global trend—it’s a personal decision shaped by fear, survival, and hope. Every migrant has a story. And every story deserves to be heard. From young students fleeing civil unrest in Sudan to families escaping rising sea levels in Bangladesh, migration is not always…
Ria Money Transfer, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide and a leading player in global remittances, has officially received approval from Malaysia’s Department of Labour Peninsular to disburse wages digitally to migrant workers via the Ria Wallet. This marks a major step forward in promoting financial inclusion among the country’s migrant workforce, many of whom remain unbanked and rely heavily on cash transactions. The approval allows employers to use Ria’s digital Payroll Management System to pay salaries directly into workers’ Ria Wallets. This system is part of a broader Prepaid Card Program developed in partnership with Mastercard, offering an omni-channel, secure,…
Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez has condemned President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, calling it a form of “punishment” rather than policy. His criticism comes after Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles following protests sparked by an aggressive increase in deportation efforts targeting undocumented immigrants in the city. The deployment has faced widespread opposition, with both Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom voicing strong objections. Although a citywide curfew was lifted this week by Mayor Bass, tension remains high, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods. Reports of federal agents detaining individuals in…
El Paso has once again reported the highest number of migrant encounters in the United States for May, continuing a four-month streak. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, agents in the El Paso Sector recorded 2,014 illegal entries last month, placing it ahead of other major border zones such as Tucson, Arizona, with 1,588, and the Rio Grande Valley Sector in South Texas, with 1,439. Stretching from Hudspeth County, Texas, to the state lines of New Mexico and Arizona, the El Paso Sector remains at the forefront of migrant activity despite a reported 93 percent decrease in…
In a strong and unified statement, the leaders of the G7 nations have vowed to take coordinated action to dismantle migrant smuggling networks and combat human trafficking. This pledge, released under the G7 Coalition to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants and the 2024 G7 Action Plan, outlines a broad international strategy aimed at stopping criminal organisations profiting from the suffering of vulnerable people. The leaders stated they are fully committed to improving border management and intensifying enforcement efforts. They also plan to target the transnational organised crime groups involved in smuggling and trafficking, many of which are linked…
Hundreds of migrants who gathered on Gravelines beach near Calais were teargassed by French police early on Tuesday as they rushed towards a single dinghy waiting offshore to cross to the UK. Witnesses said officers stood by as tear gas canisters and pepper spray were fired into the crowd, forcing families with small children to choke and sputter in waist‑deep water before fleeing back to shore. The dramatic scenes came just hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer met President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Canada, where Downing Street described the Channel situation as “deteriorating.” Official Home Office figures…