Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The United States has partnered with the United Nations migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to assist undocumented migrants who wish to return to their home countries voluntarily. This program, known as Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR), offers migrants a choice to leave the US safely and with dignity, rather than being deported. On May 12, 2025, the IOM clarified that its role is not to facilitate deportations but to help migrants make informed decisions about returning home. According to the IOM, the United States has requested the agency’s support for those who choose to return voluntarily, ensuring they…
The United Nations has revealed that more than 100 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States are being held at a large high-security prison in El Salvador. The U.N. says these detainees may be facing serious human rights violations at the facility known as the Centre for Terrorism Confinement. According to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the fate of another 245 Venezuelans and about 30 Salvadorans deported to El Salvador remains unknown. These people were deported as part of a strict immigration plan under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. The U.S. and El Salvador…
The UK is now facing a legal challenge over its decision to deport asylum seekers to Bulgaria. Human rights lawyers say migrants sent there face abuse and poor conditions, which could break European human rights laws. The case has raised serious concerns about whether Bulgaria is a safe country for return. Since July 2024, when the Labour government came into power, more than 24,000 people have been returned from the UK, including over 200 to Bulgaria. The UK has agreements with several countries, including Bulgaria, to send people back if there is proof they entered that country first. But some…
Cyprus has begun returning Syrian migrants directly to Syria under a new agreement, marking a significant shift in its approach to maritime migration. Over the weekend, Cypriot marine police intercepted two boats carrying a total of 62 Syrian nationals and pushed them back at sea before they could enter the island’s territorial waters. The migrants, traveling in separate vessels detected on Friday and Saturday, were returned directly to Syria’s Tartus port. This operation is the first test of the new cooperation channel between Cyprus and Syria, allowing for direct returns instead of processing migrants within Cyprus. Authorities say the agreement…
Estonia has once again stepped in to help secure the European Union’s eastern frontier, sending an 11-member police unit to assist Latvia in managing a sharp rise in illegal border crossings from Belarus. The move comes in response to a formal request by Latvia, which has seen a spike in unauthorized entries and increasingly aggressive behavior toward its border guards. According to Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), the unit—named ESTPOL10—will be stationed in the southern Latvian areas of Kaplava and Robežnieki, where border pressure has been most intense. This marks the 10th time Estonia has sent personnel to…
The Trump administration has launched a major initiative to trace over 450,000 unaccompanied migrant children who entered the United States during Joe Biden’s presidency, saying the goal is to protect their well-being. However, rights advocates warn this move could instead lead to widespread surveillance and deportation of undocumented caregivers, placing vulnerable families at risk. Federal agents from Homeland Security and the FBI are now going door-to-door, checking on children and verifying the identity of adult sponsors. Officials claim they are responding to reports of misconduct and potential trafficking. But many families fear that these welfare checks are simply a front…
The UK government has released a new immigration white paper titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, outlining sweeping reforms aimed at significantly reducing migration while strengthening the domestic workforce. Published on Monday, 12 May, by the Home Office, the 82-page document introduces new measures that target international recruitment, tighten immigration pathways, and boost the country’s long-term economic interests through a more skilled and selective approach. At the heart of the reform is a push to prioritize individuals who offer the greatest economic contribution to the UK. The government plans to raise the bar for skilled migration, re-emphasizing domestic training…
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a sweeping reform of the UK’s immigration system. Describing it as “broken,” Starmer outlined new rules that would make it harder for migrants to gain long-term status, including tougher English tests and an extended settlement period. Under the proposed UK visa reform immigration system, all visa applicants and their adult dependants will now need to pass stricter English language exams. For the first time, adult dependants must also show basic language skills to support integration, find work, and avoid exploitation. According to the Oxford University Migration Observatory, over 90% of migrants already…
Cambodia has welcomed a new phase of an important EU-funded programme that protects migrant workers in fishing, seafood processing, and aquaculture. The programme is called “Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy,” and it has now entered its third phase, running from 2025 to 2028. A key meeting was held in Phnom Penh on May 8, where government officials, employers, workers, and civil society groups came together. They discussed ways to improve the lives and working conditions of Cambodian migrants who work in the fishing and seafood supply chain. This new phase…
A Mexican migrant who was found unconscious in a remote area of South Texas has died after being treated for nearly two weeks in a hospital. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shared the details of the case on Wednesday. The man was discovered on September 20 in a rural part of Dimmit County, which is located about 43 miles southeast of Eagle Pass and 17 miles from the Mexican border. He was not alone — someone who was with him called for help, saying they were both lost and that the man had passed out and was shaking. When…