Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Despite hopes for reform, the migration corridor between Bangladesh and Malaysia continues to be riddled with corruption, flawed recruitment practices, and abuse of workers. Malaysia is preparing to reopen its labour market to Bangladeshi workers after a year-long suspension. However, there are still no signs of real change in policies meant to protect migrants from exploitation. The recurring cycle of opening and closing the labour market highlights a broken system. Malaysia has halted recruitment from Bangladesh several times in the past 20 years due to fraud, human trafficking, and corruption. Yet each reopening has come without accountability or policy reform,…

Migrant partners are harming the UK’s finances, according to a new government-commissioned report. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has warned that those entering the UK on partner or family visas are likely to remain a long-term burden on public services, including the NHS, and offer little economic benefit. In its review, the MAC stated that most migrants on partner visas would be “fiscally negative” over their lifetimes. The income level of their sponsors—whether UK citizens or settled migrants—didn’t make much difference to this outcome. While wealthier sponsors were slightly more likely to have higher-earning partners, the link was too weak…

The Trump administration has deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to support intensified immigration raids, a move that has caused nationwide protests and sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. The deployment of 700 Marines, expected to arrive by Monday night or Tuesday morning, is part of a wider plan to clamp down on undocumented immigrants, especially in states opposing federal immigration policies. California officials quickly opposed the move. The state government filed a lawsuit to stop the deployment of both the National Guard and the Marines, arguing it violates state rights. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the action as a dangerous step…

A LegalTech company created by a registered blind lawyer and a migrant co-founder has raised £22 million in Series B funding to support its global expansion and advance its AI-powered legal tools. The startup, Definely, was co-founded by Nnamdi Emelifeonwu and Feargus MacDaeid, who previously worked together at law firm Freshfields. The idea for the company grew out of MacDaeid’s own challenges navigating legal documents due to a degenerative eye condition he’s lived with since age 11. His experience shaped the development of tools designed to help lawyers work faster and more efficiently. The new funding round was led by…

More than 6,000 people have been arrested across the UK in the past year during a major crackdown on illegal migrant workers, the Home Office has revealed. Videos shared on Saturday show immigration enforcement teams raiding nail bars, restaurants, workshops, and caravan parks in cities like London and counties including Surrey. Since July last year, the number of enforcement visits has significantly increased, leading to a 51% jump in arrests compared to the previous year. However, the Government did not say how many of these arrests resulted in charges, deportations, or legal convictions. Between July 4, 2024, and May 31,…

A former US Marine Corps veteran from Texas is now paralysed and in critical condition after being shot by a migrant who had entered the country illegally and had a record of four previous arrests. The incident has sparked widespread anger and reignited debates over border security and failures in the justice system. The victim, 44-year-old Jimmy Friesenhahn, served 14 years in the Marine Corps, including deployments to Iraq. He was working as a security guard at El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio when he was allegedly shot by 29-year-old Wilmer Vladmir Ortega Ruiz. The attack happened in the…

A new travel ban announced by former US President Donald Trump has officially taken effect, causing a surge of protests in Los Angeles as many criticize the administration’s renewed hardline stance on immigration. The order bars citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, mostly nations affected by conflict and displacement. The ban, which Trump claimed was necessary to stop the entry of “terrorists,” became active on Monday. The announcement has fueled public anger, especially in Los Angeles, where thousands of protesters clashed with police and National Guard troops. Demonstrators took to the streets following a wave of arrests…

A UK government program meant to help migrant care workers find new jobs after being exploited has helped less than 4% of them, new data shows. This is raising serious questions about whether the government is doing enough to fix problems in the care industry. Between May 2024 and April 2025, over 28,000 migrant care workers were referred to special job-finding hubs. These workers had tied visas, meaning they were only allowed to work for the employers who sponsored their visas. But many lost their jobs when it was discovered that hundreds of employers were abusing the system. According to…

Migrant detainees held at a U.S. immigration facility in Miami protested on Thursday over worsening conditions. The protest happened at the Krome Detention Center, where people in custody used their bodies to form the letters “SOS” in the courtyard. News helicopters filmed the scene, which quickly gained attention. NPR reporter Jasmine Garsd has been covering problems at this center for months. She has spoken with many detainees and their families about how hard life is inside the detention center. One of the biggest issues right now is severe overcrowding, with ICE facilities across Florida holding more people than they are…

A French man has been jailed over the racist killing of his Tunisian neighbor in what prosecutors are calling the first far-right attack in France officially labeled as terrorism. The deadly shooting happened last Saturday in Puget-sur-Argens, a town in southern France, and has sparked fresh fears about growing racism in the country. France is home to the largest Muslim population in the European Union. This incident has put a spotlight on long-standing problems of anti-Muslim and anti-migrant bias. Experts say these forms of racism are deeply rooted in French society and politics. The victim, a man from Tunisia, was…