Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The European Union has refused to let the UK access vital migrant fingerprint databases, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset efforts. This decision by Brussels is seen as a setback for the UK government’s push to crack down on illegal migration and improve border security. According to sources in Whitehall, EU officials told UK negotiators that Britain cannot be granted access to the Schengen Information System (SIS) or Eurodac. These systems hold critical data, including the fingerprints of migrants intercepted while trying to enter the EU without permission. Before Brexit, the UK had limited access…

Afghan migrants living in Pakistan and Iran are urgently calling on the international community to step in, as reports of arrests, mistreatment, and forced deportations continue to rise. Many of these migrants are now facing a humanitarian crisis, with their futures uncertain. According to Tolo News, thousands of Afghans are being affected every week. Many migrants say they are being detained even though they hold valid documents such as the Proof of Registration (PoR) or Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). “There are 1.4 million holders of PoR cards and 800,000 holders of ACC cards living here,” one Afghan migrant told Tolo…

A Vietnamese husband and wife who ran two restaurants in Adelaide have been ordered by the Federal Court to pay over $802,000 after they underpaid migrant workers and made them buy bubble tea for their bosses. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) won the case, securing both penalties and back payments for 36 affected staff members, most of whom were young international students from Vietnam. The court found that Mr Viet Quoc Mai and Ms Huong Le, who owned and managed the “Mr Viet” restaurants in Rundle Mall and Adelaide’s Chinatown, paid workers as little as $15 per hour. Some employees…

Indonesia is renewing its commitment to protect and uplift its migrant workers, with Minister of Migrant Workers Protection Abdul Kadir Karding calling for better rights, security, and prosperity for Indonesians working abroad. His comments came during the International Workers’ Day celebration on May 1 at Jakarta’s National Monument Square, where he joined President Prabowo Subianto in addressing the nation’s workforce. Minister Karding expressed hope that migrant workers will receive the recognition and support they deserve, especially as new policies and reforms are set to improve their working conditions. He noted that President Prabowo had promised several significant steps forward, including…

Reform UK has won a dramatic by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby, narrowly beating Labour by just six votes. The win is being celebrated by party leader Nigel Farage, who credited public frustration over migration for the upset. This defeat is a major blow for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, especially as Labour had previously held the seat with a massive majority of nearly 14,700 votes. Sarah Pochin, the newly elected MP, now becomes the fifth Reform UK member in Parliament. The result, finalized after a recount, signals growing support for the party’s anti-migrant platform. Nigel Farage described it as a…

Tom Homan, the former immigration chief under the Trump administration, has strongly criticized Democratic lawmakers for continuing to support Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported migrant who is now facing serious allegations of domestic abuse. Homan called him a public safety risk and said his removal from the U.S. was necessary. Abrego Garcia was deported in 2023, but a past protective order from 2020 has now resurfaced, accusing him of repeated abuse against his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and emotional harm to her children. The court filing describes incidents where he allegedly kicked, slapped, and shoved her, and even held her…

Türkiye has captured 21 migrant smugglers and 547 irregular migrants in a major nationwide operation. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared the news on Friday, saying that the inspections were part of a strong effort to fight illegal migration and smuggling in the country. He said the operation was carried out by the migration directorate along with the police, gendarmerie, and Coast Guard. According to Yerlikaya, this large inspection was done in 15,469 locations, including abandoned buildings, truck garages, ports, stations, and public places. In total, the identities of 420,269 people were checked. One of the smugglers caught was a foreign…

The European Union is now closely monitoring how migrants are being treated at repatriation centers in Italy and at migrant centers in Albania that Italy manages. This decision comes after new reports raised concerns about poor living conditions and human rights violations in these facilities. Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said the European Commission has received a report from the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee. The report was based on visits to several repatriation centers (CPRs) in Italy, including those in Milan, Rome, Potenza, and Gradisca last year. According to Brunner, the report was discussed…

Who Are Migrants Today? Migrants today are not a single group. They include refugees fleeing conflict, workers searching for jobs, families escaping poverty, and young people chasing education. Some move voluntarily. Many have no choice. As of 2024, over 281 million people live outside their country of birth — that’s 3.6% of the world population. These are not just statistics. They are teachers, farmers, parents, and children. They carry dreams and fears, just like anyone else. Why People Leave Their Homes No one leaves home unless home becomes dangerous, unstable, or impossible to survive in. War, political persecution, religious violence,…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made serious accusations against European authorities, claiming they deliberately sabotaged migrant boats in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, leading to the deaths of asylum seekers. Speaking this week, Erdoğan said some migrant vessels were “ruthlessly punctured,” resulting in tragic drownings. The Turkish president’s remarks have reignited tensions around Europe’s handling of migration, especially the alleged use of illegal “pushback” tactics by some EU member states. These tactics involve preventing asylum seekers from reaching European shores, sometimes through dangerous or inhumane means. “Don’t forget, there were migrants who drowned because their boats were punctured,” Erdoğan…