Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The UK Home Office has reportedly allowed dozens of employers to regain their licences to sponsor migrant workers, even after they were earlier penalised for breaking visa rules. According to a report by The Times, some of these firms had previously been part of a government crackdown targeting abuse within the skilled worker visa system, especially in the care sector. Last year, the Home Office announced strong action against what it described as “rogue operators.” Hundreds of care providers lost their sponsorship licences after being accused of serious violations. These included employing people illegally, offering fake job roles to secure…

Spain has released clearer details on how overseas criminal records will be considered in its ongoing migrant regularisation process. A draft document published by the Ministry of Migration and Social Security outlines strict conditions under which past convictions abroad could affect an applicant’s chance to gain legal status. The draft, dated January 28, focuses on offences that would also be considered crimes under Spanish law and occurred within a defined time window. This clarification is part of efforts by President Pedro Sánchez’s government to regularise the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants in the country. Under the new…

Migrant children in South Korea are significantly more likely to miss out on needed medical care compared to Korean nationals, according to migration and health experts. New findings show that infants and toddlers from migrant backgrounds experience unmet healthcare needs at a rate nearly eight times higher than local children, raising serious concerns about equal access to health services. Kim Sa-gang, a research fellow at the Migration and Human Rights Institute, highlighted the issue during a recent policy forum focused on protecting the health rights of children with migration backgrounds. She explained that while only 2.4 percent of Korean infants…

Rescue teams from the humanitarian organisations Sea-Eye and Pilotes Volontaires saved 47 migrants from an overcrowded wooden boat in the Central Mediterranean Sea on February 2. The operation involved the rescue ship Sea-Eye 5 and the surveillance aircraft Colibri 2, which works to locate boats in distress from the air. According to a joint statement released on February 4, the migrants were found in dangerous conditions on a small wooden vessel that was not safe for such a journey. The rescue took place in the Maltese Search and Rescue zone after the crew of the Colibri 2 spotted the boat…

LemFi, a global remittance and financial services company, has announced its entry into the Australian market, bringing trusted and cost-effective international money transfer services to millions of migrants living in the country. The expansion follows formal authorisation by AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence and regulatory authority, allowing LemFi to operate as a licensed remittance dealer. This milestone is a key part of LemFi’s global growth strategy and reflects confidence in its compliance systems and operational strength. With AUSTRAC approval, the company can now serve Australian residents directly, offering secure, transparent, and affordable cross-border payment services. Australia is home to a large…

Singapore has strengthened health checks for migrant workers arriving from India’s West Bengal state after reports of Nipah virus cases there. Officials confirmed that there are no infections detected in Singapore, but authorities say the measures are a precaution to protect public health. The move highlights increased Singapore migrant worker health checks in response to regional disease concerns. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), newly arrived workers from West Bengal must undergo daily temperature checks while staying at the onboard centre. After leaving the centre, they must also complete 14 days of self-monitoring. These steps are part of Singapore…

A seven-month pregnant Venezuelan woman living in the United States says she is scared about what the future holds for her family. She came to the US two years ago with hope for a better life, but recent immigration policy changes have made her situation more stressful and uncertain. The woman, Franyelis, lives in a shelter that used to be a budget hotel. She shares the space with many other migrant families who are also waiting for decisions about their legal status. Every day, she takes care of her three-year-old son while preparing for the birth of another baby boy.…

Greece has announced plans to build three new migrant centers in Crete as part of a broader effort to tighten migration controls. The decision comes after record numbers of migrants arrived on the island in 2025, creating pressure on local services and reception facilities. The proposal is included in a migration bill expected to be approved by parliament later this week. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris introduced an amendment to the bill that provides for one permanent migrant facility and two temporary detention centers on Crete. The permanent center will be built on the island, while the temporary facilities are planned…

Spain’s government has unveiled a sweeping plan to grant legal residency and work rights to up to 500,000 undocumented migrants, a move that has sparked intense political debate and public concern. The policy, which will take effect in April 2026, is the country’s first major migrant regularisation in two decades and marks a significant shift from stricter immigration policies seen elsewhere in Europe and the United States. The new residency plan will allow undocumented migrants who arrived in Spain before the end of 2025 to apply for a one-year legal residency permit, renewable each year. After ten years of continuous…

The Cutro migrant boat tragedy trial has officially begun in Italy, nearly three years after the deadly shipwreck off the coast of Calabria. The case centers on the sinking of the wooden boat known as Summer Love, which crashed onto rocks near Steccato di Cutro on February 26, 2023. The disaster claimed the lives of 94 people, including 35 children. Six members of Italy’s finance police and coastguard are now on trial in Crotone. Prosecutors allege they failed to act quickly enough after early warnings about the boat in distress. The defendants face charges of multiple involuntary manslaughter and culpable…