Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Rwanda has confirmed it is holding early discussions with the United States about accepting migrants who are being deported. The country’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said in a national television interview that the talks are still in the beginning stage and no final agreement has been reached yet. This move comes as the United States continues a major crackdown on immigration. The US government is looking for international partners to help remove migrants, including visa holders, student activists, and people suspected of being gang members. Former President Donald Trump recently stated that he plans to carry out the largest deportation…

Nearly 6,000 attempts were made by migrants to hide in vehicles at Channel ports and cross into the UK last year, new BBC data has revealed. The figures, obtained by BBC South East, show a significant increase from 2023, with 5,874 detections compared to 4,794 the year before. These incidents happened at ports in Calais, Dunkirk, and the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles, all major exit points for migrants trying to reach the UK. Despite a shift in focus towards small boat crossings since 2018, the threat of clandestine entry in lorries and other vehicles remains high. The Independent Chief Inspector…

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille is known for his warm nature and strong commitment to helping migrants and promoting dialogue. Pope Francis gave him the task of coordinating a church network focused on countries around the Mediterranean Sea. This region includes 22 nations from Africa, Asia, and Europe, all facing similar problems such as war, corruption, and large waves of migration. This church network aims to bring people together and help create peace and justice. Cardinal Aveline has even suggested holding a special church meeting, or synod, focused only on the Mediterranean. He believes the Catholic Church should help build…

Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, has called on the global community—especially the International Labour Organization (ILO)—to take a stronger role in protecting the health and safety of migrant workers in informal and undocumented jobs. Speaking at the 7th Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference (GOSH7) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nazrul highlighted the serious health risks and social challenges faced by many migrant workers across the world. His remarks were shared through a press release issued by the ministry on Monday, May 5, 2025. He explained that many developing countries struggle with limited resources, not enough…

A migrant processing centre in the UK has seen a major rise in the number of staff fired after failing drug tests, raising serious concerns about the care of vulnerable asylum seekers. At least 29 staff at the Manston processing centre in Kent were dismissed in 2024 after testing positive for illegal drugs, according to new information from the Home Office. This is a sharp increase from 2023, when five or fewer staff were sacked for similar reasons. Thousands of people who arrive in the UK after crossing the English Channel are processed at Manston by Home Office officials and…

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…