Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

President Donald Trump’s second term has brought major changes to U.S. immigration enforcement. Promising the largest mass deportation effort in the country’s history, his administration has increased pressure on undocumented migrants, resulting in stricter border controls and higher arrest rates across the country. According to NBC News, which is tracking immigration enforcement data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unauthorized border crossings have significantly decreased since Trump returned to office. In contrast, arrests by ICE have doubled, and the number of migrants being held in detention centers is now the highest it has…

Italy has sent a second group of migrants to Albania after making changes to its legal framework that now allows the offshoring of certain migration procedures. The Italian military ship Spica departed from Brindisi on Tuesday and arrived at the Port of Shengjin in Albania on Wednesday morning with 27 migrants on board. These migrants are being transferred to a special detention and repatriation centre in Gjader, about 20 kilometres from the port. This latest transfer marks the second time Italy has sent migrants to Albania. The first such operation took place on April 11, when the naval ship Libra…

A tragic incident has occurred off the coast of Spain’s Canary Islands, where a boat carrying around 150 migrants capsized as it approached the port of La Restinga on El Hierro island. The accident claimed the lives of four women and three young girls, including a 16-year-old and two children believed to be under the age of five. According to Spain’s maritime rescue service, the migrant boat was being escorted by the Salvamar Diphda rescue vessel when it suddenly overturned near the dock. The boat, already filled with exhausted passengers after a difficult ocean journey, capsized due to the shifting…

Dozens of migrant care workers in the UK say they were charged thousands of pounds for free work visas and forced to work in abusive conditions at care homes. The BBC uncovered these findings in an eight-month investigation, which showed a pattern of exploitation and fear among workers at Lotus Care, a company running care homes across northern England. Workers said they were threatened with deportation if they spoke up about poor treatment. Some were forced to work double shifts without proper sick leave. Messages seen by the BBC showed care home managers using the threat of cancelling workers’ Certificates…

Germany’s government has approved new measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and extend the waiting period for citizenship, signaling a significant shift in its migration policy. These changes come under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and mark a departure from the more liberal stance of the previous administration. According to Reuters, the cabinet announced that migrants holding subsidiary protection status—mostly Syrians—will now face a two-year suspension on their right to bring spouses and children into the country. Nearly 380,000 migrants currently hold this status. Until now, it allowed for the annual reunification of about 12,000 family members with…

Crete is now facing one of its worst migrant crises, with over 4,600 people arriving since January 2025. In just the last four days, 1,076 more migrants reached the island. Local port staff, authorities, and communities are under extreme pressure, both physically and mentally, as the situation gets worse each day. The Heraklion port, Greece’s third busiest, is under major strain. Workers are overwhelmed, and the conditions are becoming unbearable. The president of the Union of Eastern Crete Port Personnel, Giorgos Sfakianakis, explained that staff are watching helplessly as more migrants arrive daily. He said the crisis is now “out…

A violent shooting at the Blazuj migrant reception centre near Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, left six men injured on Monday night. According to the Sarajevo Canton police, the victims include one man from Pakistan and five others from Afghanistan. Two of the injured are in life-threatening condition, while three are seriously hurt. Police say several suspects have been identified and are currently being questioned. The incident has been classified as “attempted murder” by local prosecutors. Witnesses have also been interviewed as part of the investigation. Sources told BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) that members of a criminal…

Taiwan has announced that it will officially open the doors of its hospitality sector to migrant workers in the second half of 2025. This decision comes amid an urgent shortage of staff in the tourism and hotel industries, especially in roles like housekeeping, cleaning, and front desk services. The move is expected to bring much-needed relief to hotel operators struggling to hire and retain workers. Chou Yung-hui, Director-General of the Tourism Administration, confirmed the new policy, explaining that it will be implemented in stages later this year. However, Chou stressed that local businesses must first prioritize hiring Taiwanese workers. “Only…

Mauritania has become the main departure country for migrants trying to reach Spain by sea, according to new data released by the Spanish National Security Department (DSN). In 2024 alone, about 25,000 migrants left Mauritania’s coast heading toward Spain. This number is nearly equal to the combined total of those departing from Morocco and Algeria. This trend highlights Mauritania’s growing role in migration routes from West Africa to Europe. The DSN, which reports directly to the Spanish government, warned that this pressure may increase in the future due to rising instability in the Sahel region, especially along the border with…

The UK government has launched a major plan worth £3 billion to help train local workers. This effort is meant to reduce how much the country depends on migrant labour. The government says this move will create 120,000 new training opportunities in key sectors like construction, health care, digital tech, and engineering. Why is this happening now? The government is under growing political pressure after the Reform UK party, which is against immigration, performed well in local elections. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants the country to focus more on training young people in the UK instead of bringing in workers…