Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A migrant has sadly died while trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat. Emergency services, including lifeboats and helicopters, were sent to the area on the morning of April 18 after a small boat was reported in distress. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed that it had launched its all-weather lifeboat to assist. A group of people were brought safely to Dover by a UK Border Force vessel, but one man could not be saved. A blue forensics tent was set up outside the Dover Lifeboat Station, showing the seriousness of the situation. The exact number…

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly criticized a federal judge’s ruling that blocked his administration’s attempt to revoke the legal status of over 530,000 migrants who arrived under a Biden-era immigration program. Trump expressed his frustration on his Truth Social account, saying the court’s requirement for each migrant to be tried individually would delay the process for decades. The court’s decision focused on the controversial CHNV parole program, which allowed citizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally enter the U.S. by air if they had sponsors. Launched during President Joe Biden’s term, the program aimed to create…

Afghanistan has announced new plans to help its citizens return from Pakistan in a safe and organized way. Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, shared the updates during his visit to Islamabad, where he met with Afghan traders and refugees. Azizi, who leads a delegation from the Islamic Emirate, said that a High Commission for Refugee Issues has been set up to address the growing concerns of Afghan refugees living abroad. The new commission will focus on making the return process easier for Afghan industrial workers and their families while also working to improve conditions once they return…

Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen has taken a bold step in calling for justice after the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a lawful U.S. resident sent to El Salvador in violation of a court order. Van Hollen arrived in San Salvador on Wednesday, determined to meet with government leaders and, if possible, with Abrego Garcia himself, whom he described as being “illegally kidnapped.” Abrego Garcia’s deportation has sparked outrage as it went against a 2019 U.S. federal court order — upheld by the Supreme Court — which clearly protected him from being removed from the United States. Despite…

In a powerful show of unity and compassion, more than two dozen congregations of Catholic sisters across the United States have formed a coalition to support migrants stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border. The newly formed Transborder Coalition for Border Ministries, led by California sisters, has pledged up to $300,000 to assist border ministries run by women religious who provide legal support, food, shelter, and medical aid to migrants in need. Spearheaded by Sister Ann Durst, a lawyer and founder of the Casa Cornelia Law Center in San Diego, the coalition emphasizes cross-border solidarity. “We speak for the poor here, north…

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland recently flew to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported migrant accused of being part of the MS-13 gang. The 29-year-old Garcia was sent to El Salvador and locked up in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a high-security prison that holds people suspected of gang activities. However, Van Hollen’s efforts to see Garcia were unsuccessful, as prison officials refused his request. Garcia’s legal team says he has no ties to MS-13, despite accusations from U.S. officials. Van Hollen wanted to meet with him personally to check on his welfare and discuss…

Italy has welcomed a new move by the European Union to tighten asylum rules by labeling more countries as “safe.” Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi described the decision as a victory for Rome, which has long pushed for tougher restrictions on irregular migration. On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed designating Bangladesh, Egypt, Tunisia, Colombia, India, Morocco, and Kosovo as safe countries. This classification makes it more difficult for citizens from these nations to seek asylum within the EU, as their home countries are deemed safe enough not to warrant international protection. Piantedosi said Italy has been actively working on this…

The European Union is moving to speed up the deportation of migrants from Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt by classifying these nations as “safe third countries.” This proposal, announced by the European Commission on Wednesday, would fast-track asylum claims from these countries to ease the burden on Europe’s overwhelmed migrant reception centers. Alongside Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, the new list also includes Bangladesh, Colombia, India, and Kosovo. Citizens from these seven countries, who are unlikely to qualify for international protection, would see their asylum applications processed within three months instead of the usual six, according to the European Commission. Last year…

The UK government is in ongoing talks with France over a possible migrant returns deal aimed at reducing the number of illegal Channel crossings. The proposed pilot scheme would be based on a one-for-one exchange, where the UK agrees to accept legal migrants seeking family reunification, in return for sending back undocumented migrants who arrive via small boats. According to France’s interior ministry, this approach could disrupt smuggling networks and act as a deterrent for migrants considering the dangerous journey across the English Channel. The idea was first reported by the Financial Times and has since been confirmed by French…

Indonesia is preparing to launch a pilot program to send trained caregivers to Singapore, with the aim of filling the country’s growing need for elderly care workers. The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) announced the move on Tuesday, confirming that the initiative is part of broader efforts to boost the overseas placement of skilled Indonesian migrant workers. According to KP2MI, Singapore has been chosen as the first country for the pilot project, mainly due to the significant number of Indonesians already working there and the increasing demand for caregivers. Of the 250,000 Indonesians currently living in…