Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

New Zealand has seen a big fall in its net migration numbers, dropping below 30,000 in the year to March 2025. According to Stats NZ, the country recorded a net gain of only 26,400 people, compared to 100,400 in the same period last year. The drop was mainly because fewer migrants arrived in the country, even though more people also left New Zealand. Stats NZ spokesperson Sarah Drake explained that migrant arrivals fell, and departures rose to record levels. During the 12 months, there were 149,600 migrant arrivals and 123,300 departures. This is a major decrease from the 207,100 arrivals…

As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 World Cup, human rights groups are raising the alarm over the rising number of migrant worker deaths. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and FairSquare say many workers are dying from accidents that could have been prevented, and their families are not getting proper compensation. These deaths are often marked down as “natural causes” even when they result from falls, electrocutions, or being crushed by machines. Human rights groups are now warning that the 2034 World Cup could come at a heavy human cost, with millions of migrant workers building 11 new stadiums,…

A Moroccan migrant in Italy is facing deportation even after helping the police catch a thief. Zakaria Nagda, a 29-year-old man, has been living in Italy without a residence permit for the past eight months. His journey took him from Morocco through Spain and France before he entered Italy through the coastal town of Ventimiglia. Zakaria had no official documents when he arrived and didn’t apply for a residency permit. Instead, he began searching for work and recently got a trial job at a local market. His story caught national attention after an early morning incident in Turin, where he…

A group of 59 white South Africans has landed in the United States after being granted refugee status under a fast-track program by former President Donald Trump. The group, mostly Afrikaners, arrived at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C. on Monday and were warmly welcomed by US officials with small American flags and red, white, and blue decorations. President Trump said the group faced racial discrimination in South Africa and needed protection. He claimed white farmers were being targeted and even described it as a possible “genocide.” Because of this, the US government approved their applications much faster than usual. However,…

On May 8, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a targeted enforcement operation at a hotel construction site in San Juan, leading to the arrest of 53 illegal aliens. The operation, supported by several federal agencies including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service, focused on verifying compliance with U.S. immigration laws at the La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort hotel. The arrested individuals, all Dominican nationals, included seven females. They are now in ICE custody, pending removal proceedings. ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Juan Special…

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…