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الوسم: migration

  • 13 Missing After Tunisia Migrant Boat Disaster Amid Rising Crackdown

    13 Missing After Tunisia Migrant Boat Disaster Amid Rising Crackdown

    A Tunisian Coast Guard officer assists a migrant child onto a rescue boat in Jbeniana, Safx, Tunisia, on April 23, 2022, captured in a still from a handout video. — Reuters

    – Two individuals were saved, with one in serious condition, authorities reported.
    – The boat departed early Thursday, according to a migrant rights organization leader.
    – One survivor said they were stranded at sea for hours after their vessel capsized.

    At least 13 Tunisians are missing following a migrant boat sinking off the coast of Tunisia while heading toward Italy, with two people rescued, according to the head of a migration advocacy group on Saturday.

    Mostafa Abdelkebir, leader of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, informed Reuters that the boat left early Thursday.

    One of the survivors told local rescuers that they had been stranded at sea for hours after their boat capsized. The other survivor was listed in critical condition, Abdelkebir noted. His group monitors migration issues.

    Tunisia once served as a major departure point for people crossing the Mediterranean, but departures have sharply declined over the last two years due to intensified crackdowns and stricter maritime controls supported by European funding and advanced border surveillance, especially from Italy.

    Last month, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and numerous other human rights and humanitarian organizations issued a statement condemning the EU-Tunisia migration agreement, claiming it has encouraged and normalized severe abuses against migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia.

    These groups urged the European Union to halt funding related to migration and border enforcement involving Tunisian security forces.

    Tunisia has not responded to the statement but has repeatedly stated that it is handling the impact of a significant migration surge. In 2023, President Kais Saied claimed that the influx was directed at altering the country’s demographic composition.

    The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s deadliest migration paths, used by migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to reach Europe, often on overcrowded or unseaworthy boats.

  • Tragedy in Spain: 72+ Dead in Ceuta Migrant Surge

    Tragedy in Spain: 72+ Dead in Ceuta Migrant Surge

    During last week’s surge of migrants into Spain’s Ceuta enclave, at least 72 individuals lost their lives, according to local officials. This follows recent reports of about 60,000 people rushing into the territory, predominantly by swimming around the border from Morocco. Many have since returned to Morocco following the large crossing event.

    Miguel Angel Perez Triano, the government delegate for Ceuta, confirmed the death toll had risen to 72, up from the previous count of 67. Spanish authorities responded by deploying police and military patrols in Ceuta, restoring order after the mass crossing. Most migrants, who crossed the small border barrier, left voluntarily within two days, leaving only scattered groups wandering the area.

    The unprecedented influx has triggered an international crisis, with European partners criticizing Spain’s immigration policies. Outside a housing complex near Ceuta’s port, Spanish soldiers detained nine exhausted migrants sitting on the pavement, guarded by armed personnel and an armored vehicle, an AFP reporter observed.

    Rescue boats from a relief unit patrolled the waters surrounding the border, which now features a reinforced 500-meter floating barrier designed to bolster security. Additionally, Civil Guard agents escorted migrants onto buses to be taken back to the Moroccan border post.

    The border remained largely calm, with cleanup crews collecting debris left behind during the crossing. Spain has accused criminal gangs of spreading false rumors that a recent Spanish Supreme Court decision would facilitate easier migration. Some analysts speculate Morocco may have allowed the crossings to exert diplomatic pressure on Spain, especially as Madrid has recently improved relations with its rival Algeria.

    In 2021, roughly 10,000 migrants seized the opportunity when Morocco eased border restrictions, using it as leverage in negotiations with Spain. Moroccan officials have yet to comment publicly on the recent crisis, but some migrants reported hearing that the border was open—a rumor quickly amplified via social media.

    The European Union announced plans for a video conference on Tuesday, following a joint letter from 22 member states calling for urgent, coordinated measures to prevent further uncontrolled crossings. On Saturday, Italy suspended its participation in the Schengen agreement with Spain for a month, halting visa-free travel across their borders.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the reaction of some EU countries, labeling it “selfish” and calling for a unified response to manage the crisis effectively.

  • Mass Exodus: Thousands Flee into Spain’s North African Enclave Amid New Migrant Crisis

    Mass Exodus: Thousands Flee into Spain’s North African Enclave Amid New Migrant Crisis

    On July 30, 2026, a large crowd gathered at Bab Sebta on the Morocco-Spain border, near Spain’s enclave of Ceuta and the Moroccan town of Fnideq. Photos show numerous individuals making their way into Ceuta by swimming past the border barrier, some leaving behind flotation devices and clothing used during the risky crossings. According to a police source, overnight crossings from Morocco into Ceuta resulted in thousands of migrants entering the territory, which has a population of about 80,000.

    The surge in arrivals has created a crisis for Spanish authorities, prompting France to tighten border checks with Spain. Spain has deployed troops to reinforce security in Ceuta. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his interior minister planned to visit the Tarajal border on Friday to oversee the situation.

    AFP reporters witnessed hundreds of men, women, and children entering Ceuta by swimming around the border barrier, with some abandoning their flotation rings and clothes amid the chaos. The police reported that 18 people had died while attempting the crossing so far. Migrants explained that they had been arriving steadily throughout the night and were still arriving early Friday morning.

    The cause of this recent rush remains unclear. In 2021, similar large numbers crossed into Ceuta during a period when Rabat eased border controls amid a diplomatic dispute with Spain.

    The situation has also caused diplomatic tension. Italy called for Spain to be expelled from the Schengen zone on Thursday, accusing Madrid of mishandling the crisis—an action that prompted Spain to summon Italy’s ambassador and criticize Rome for political use of the crisis. Additionally, two top officials from President Donald Trump’s White House reiterated restrictive immigration policies using footage from Ceuta.

    Ceuta, an 18.5-square-kilometer territory, and Melilla are Europe’s only land borders with Africa. On Thursday, jubilant migrants strolled through Ceuta’s streets, thanking Spanish authorities and shouting, “Bye bye Morocco, hello Spain.” Police and Civil Guards appeared to do little to prevent the crossings, though some tried to direct migrants to local reception centers.

    Moroccan authorities had not issued an official statement on the migrant influx, but a Moroccan official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the two countries had discussed the matter.

    In 2021, over 10,000 migrants accessed Ceuta from Morocco over just two days, taking advantage of eased border controls during a diplomatic crisis. That tension stemmed from Spain’s decision to host the leader of the Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front, for medical treatment. The Polisario, which fought Morocco over Western Sahara’s independence, was supported by Morocco’s neighbor Algeria.

    This diplomatic crisis concluded in 2022 when Madrid shifted its policy, backing Morocco’s Western Sahara claims—a move that strained relations with Algeria. Recently, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez visited Algiers for the first time in four years, signaling a thaw in relations with Algeria.

  • India Detains and Deports 5,000 Bangladesh Nationals

    India Detains and Deports 5,000 Bangladesh Nationals

    India has begun setting up detention centers for undocumented migrants, with reports indicating that West Bengal’s chief minister announced that approximately 4,800 migrants have been deported already. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist party came into power last month, nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi citizens have been repatriated, according to official figures.

    Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in the regional elections in West Bengal, a state with a population exceeding 100 million, vowing to intensify efforts to identify, detain, and expel illegal immigrants.

    India’s extensive and porous border with Bangladesh—an overwhelmingly Muslim nation—has historically facilitated migration driven by economic struggles and long-standing familial ties. After assuming office, the new West Bengal government directed the creation of detention facilities for undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees, a Muslim minority group fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

    On Sunday in Kolkata, West Bengal’s capital, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that roughly 5,000 Bangladeshi nationals had been deported across the border. “We have initiated the deportation process for Bangladeshi infiltrators who are not covered by the Citizenship Amendment Act,” Adhikari explained. He added that holding centers had been established across all districts in May, and that from these centers, 4,800 individuals had already been deported. Currently, 836 people remain in detention, with plans underway to expel them soon.

    This crackdown on immigration comes amid ongoing political debate over border security. Some Indian officials have referred to migrants as “termites” and “infiltrators,” language that critics argue has fueled discrimination and marginalization of India’s Muslim community, which makes up over 200 million of the population. Critics also accuse the BJP of conflating religious identity with illegal migration, exacerbating societal divisions.

    There have been previous allegations that India has forcibly expelled hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without proper legal procedures. Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have also experienced tension; following a 2024 revolution in Dhaka that ended the autocratic rule of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—a close ally of India—she fled to India. With a new government elected in Bangladesh earlier this year, relations are gradually improving. In fact, India and Bangladesh’s border authorities are scheduled to hold talks in New Delhi this coming Monday.

  • Two Women Drown Attempting UK Migration by Boat

    Two young women, believed to be of Sudanese descent, died on Sunday while attempting to cross from northern France to the UK in a small boat, authorities reported. The women, approximately 20 years old, were among 82 people aboard a small vessel. Christophe Marx, a regional government official, told reporters that the boat launched at night from Saturday into Sunday but “the engine wouldn’t start,” causing it to drift.

    Seventeen people were rescued at sea and transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer port. The remaining 65 individuals on the vessel eventually ran aground on a beach near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, about 7 miles south of Boulogne-sur-Mer. It was confirmed that the women were found dead inside the boat.

    Emergency responders also treated 13 individuals with moderate injuries and three with severe wounds, including burns, at the hospital. They are currently receiving care and will be interviewed by border police to establish who was responsible for the crossing. Authorities plan to verify the victims’ nationalities. This tragic event marks the third similar incident at the French-British border in just over a month.

    In early April, two migrants died off Gravelines while trying to reach the UK, and another four—two men and two women—died after being swept away by the currents. According to AFP, at least 29 migrants have lost their lives at sea in this region so far in 2025.

    Last month, Britain and France signed a new three-year agreement to bolster efforts preventing crossing attempts. France is increasing maritime patrols with more police and gendarmes along the coast, while the UK is boosting its financial contributions. French officials note that the number of arrivals in Britain has significantly decreased compared to the same period in 2025.

  • Almost 8,000 Fatalities and Disappearances in Migration Attempts of 2025

    Almost 8,000 Fatalities and Disappearances in Migration Attempts of 2025

    Nearly 8,000 individuals either died or went missing on migration routes last year, with maritime routes leading to Europe being the deadliest. Many victims are lost in “invisible shipwrecks,” where entire boats vanish at sea without a trace, a UN agency reported Tuesday.

    Maria Moita, head of the International Organization for Migration’s humanitarian and response division, said, “These figures highlight our collective failure to prevent these tragedies,” during a press briefing in Geneva.

    While the number of deaths and disappearances—7,904—has decreased from a record high of 9,197 in 2024, the IOM noted that this decline is partly due to approximately 1,500 suspected cases that could not be verified because of reduced aid efforts.

    More than 40% of these fatalities and missing persons occurred along sea routes to Europe. The report warned of so-called “invisible shipwrecks,” where entire vessels are lost at sea and never recovered. The West African route northward accounted for around 1,200 deaths, and Asia reported a record number of fatalities, including hundreds of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar and cramped refugee camps in Bangladesh.

    “The routes are changing in response to ongoing conflicts, climate pressures, and policy shifts, but the dangers remain very real,” stated Amy Pope, director-general of the IOM. “Behind these numbers are individuals undertaking perilous journeys and families waiting anxiously for news that may never arrive.”

  • UN Agencies Report 250 Missing After Andaman Sea Boat Capsize

    UN Agencies Report 250 Missing After Andaman Sea Boat Capsize

    Approximately 250 individuals are unaccounted for after their boat, ferrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, sank in the Andaman Sea, according to a joint statement from the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies issued Tuesday.

    The agencies explained that the vessel, which was carrying men, women, and children, likely went under because of strong winds, turbulent waters, and overcrowding. The boat had set sail from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was headed for Malaysia.

    “This tragedy underscores the heartbreaking human toll of long-lasting displacement and the ongoing lack of sustainable solutions for the Rohingya,” stated the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.

    For years, many members of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority have taken precarious wooden boats in hopes of reaching neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand to escape persecution or escape overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.

    The UN agencies urged the global community to increase and sustain funding for emergency aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and to support the local Bangladeshi communities hosting them.

    In 2017, Myanmar’s military launched a brutal crackdown that displaced at least 730,000 Rohingya, forcing them into Bangladesh, where they reported widespread killings, mass rape, and arson. A UN fact-finding mission described the military’s actions as “genocidal acts.” Myanmar, where the majority are Buddhist, denies committing genocide and claims the UN report lacks objectivity and reliability.

  • UN: 150,000 Afghans Return from Pakistan and Iran This Year

    UN: 150,000 Afghans Return from Pakistan and Iran This Year

    Last year, approximately 150,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran, with the rapid scale of migration worsening Afghanistan’s already critical situation, according to the UN refugee agency. Both Pakistan and Iran, after years of hosting Afghans fleeing internal crises, have intensified deportations, forcing millions back into a country struggling to support them.

    Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s representative for Afghanistan, stated during a Geneva press briefing, “So far this year, nearly 150,000 Afghans have gone back from Iran and Pakistan.” He expressed concern about these high numbers amid the harsh winter conditions, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

    He added, “These returns come on top of an unprecedented total — 2.9 million people in 2025, bringing the overall number to around 5.4 million since October 2023.” Jamal highlighted that the returnees are facing extremely tough circumstances, whether they arrive with family or alone, as Afghanistan remains plagued by poverty and environmental challenges.

    “The pace and volume of these returns have deepened Afghanistan’s crisis, which is compounded by worsening humanitarian and human rights issues—especially for women and girls—a fragile economy, and frequent natural disasters,” Jamal said. Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesperson, told AFP that the number of returnees has increased by more than 50% compared to this time last year when just under 100,000 had returned.

    According to a UNHCR survey, many families reported lacking proper civil documentation, and over 90% are living on less than five dollars a day. Jamal expressed serious concern about the sustainability of these returns, noting that some are already leaving Afghanistan once again. “These decisions to leave are driven not by a desire to go but by the reality that many cannot rebuild a decent, dignified life here,” he explained.

    The agency is prioritizing efforts to support the reintegration of returnees. However, it has called for $216 million to assist displaced people and returnees across the country this year, with only about 8% of that amount currently funded.

    Jamal emphasized the urgency of action, stating, “This is a critical moment to intervene, capitalize on opportunities for long-term solutions, and address displacement for Afghan returnees—many of whom have been in exile for years or decades.”

  • 53 Migrants Dead or Missing in Libya Shipwreck: UN

    53 Migrants Dead or Missing in Libya Shipwreck: UN

    A representative image depicts a ship capsizing in the ocean — Reuters

    – A boat sinks off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
    – Rescue teams immediately give emergency medical aid to those who survive.
    – The ship was transporting migrants and refugees from Africa to Al-Zawiya.

    —

    The UN migration agency announced Monday that 53 individuals have died or gone missing following the sinking of a boat in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya. Only two people have been rescued so far.

    The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the vessel capsized north of Zuwara on Friday.

    “During a search and rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities, only two Nigerian women were rescued,” the IOM said in a statement. One survivor recounted that she had lost her husband, while the other said she lost her two babies in the disaster.

    The IOM added that its teams provided medical assistance to both survivors immediately after they disembarked.

    According to survivor testimonies, the boat, carrying migrants and refugees from various African countries, left Al-Zawiya, Libya, around 11 p.m. on February 5. About six hours later, it capsized after taking on water.

    The agency expressed mourning over the lives lost in what is now a recurring tragedy along the central Mediterranean route.

    The Geneva-based organization highlighted that trafficking and smuggling networks are preying on migrants traveling from North Africa to Southern Europe. These criminal groups are profiting from perilous journeys on unseaworthy vessels, putting individuals through severe abuse.

    It urged for increased international cooperation to dismantle these networks, and emphasized the importance of establishing safe, legal migration pathways to lower risks and prevent future tragedies.

  • Britain and China Unite to Fight Migrant Smuggling Syndicates

    Britain and China Unite to Fight Migrant Smuggling Syndicates

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on January 28, 2026. — Reuters

    BEIJING: The UK and China are preparing to sign a cooperation agreement Thursday aimed at disrupting supply chains behind migrant smuggling networks, according to Downing Street, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits the Chinese capital.

    Starmer’s visit on Wednesday marks the first time a British prime minister has traveled to China since 2018. He’s seeking to foster what he describes as a “pragmatic” relationship with the Asian nation after years of tense and complicated diplomatic ties.

    The topic of irregular migration is particularly sensitive for the Labour leader, who has pledged to crack down on people smuggling and prevent the surge of arrivals that has contributed to growing support for far-right political groups.

    Last year, nearly 42,000 migrants arrived on England’s southern coast after crossing the perilous English Channel from northern France—making it the second-highest annual total on record.

    A statement from Downing Street highlighted, “More than half of the small boat engines used by people smugglers crossing the English Channel are manufactured in China,” as Starmer is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The leaders are expected to have lunch in Beijing Thursday, with Starmer also scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang.

    The forthcoming agreement focuses on intelligence sharing and “direct engagement with Chinese manufacturers” of boat parts to prevent organized crime from exploiting these supply chains, the statement added.

    Additionally, the deal aims to enhance cooperation on combating the trafficking of highly potent and dangerous synthetic opioids—such as nitazenes—that are believed to be produced in China and exported to the UK.

    On Wednesday, Starmer addressed a delegation of around 60 business leaders and cultural representatives accompanying him, emphasizing that “it is in our national interest to engagement with China.” He encouraged them to seize the “opportunities” presented by China and described the visit as “historic.”

    “You are part of the change we’re working to bring about,” Starmer said.

    Downing Street has praised the trip as an opportunity to strengthen trade and investment relations, while also addressing complex issues including national security and human rights concerns.

    Starmer’s visit follows a series of recent efforts by Western leaders to engage with Beijing, shifting attention away from the United States’ unpredictable stance.

    Britain has recently experienced friction with its closest ally, the US—highlighted by President Donald Trump’s attempts to acquire Greenland and his brief threat of tariffs against the UK and other NATO allies.

  • Senegal Migrant Boat Capsizes, Over a Dozen Lives Lost

    Senegal Migrant Boat Capsizes, Over a Dozen Lives Lost

    A boat carrying approximately 100 people capsized near Mbour, resulting in at least 12 fatalities. Authorities report that 32 survivors have been found, while others may have escaped before rescue crews arrived. President Faye has expressed his condolences, and efforts to locate additional survivors are ongoing. In related patrols, police intercepted 123 migrants aboard a vessel in Senegal’s Thies region on Tuesday.

  • Two Afghan teens jailed for assault in England

    Two Afghan teens jailed for assault in England

    Two teenage Afghan asylum seekers, who arrived in Britain alone within the past year, received lengthy detention sentences Monday for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in central England.

    The suspects, Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both 17, assaulted the girl in a Leamington Spa park in May after removing her from her friends while she was heavily intoxicated, prosecutors told Warwick Crown Court.

    A video the distressed girl managed to record during the assault was played at the trial, showing her crying loudly and pleading, “Please help me… let me go… I want to go home.”

    In a victim impact statement, the girl said, “The day I was raped changed me as a person,” describing it as her first sexual experience.

    This incident has became part of a broader political debate in Britain, where concerns over crimes, particularly sexual offenses committed by asylum seekers, are rising amid efforts to curb the surge of migrants crossing the English Channel by small boats.

    Recent cases include an Afghan national admitting to raping a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, and an Ethiopian man serving time after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and an adult woman in Epping, north of London. These incidents sparked protests, some turning violent, and demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Immigration issues have also boosted the popularity of the nationalist Reform UK party in opinion polls.

    Recognizing the public concern, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano ordered that the two 17-year-olds be named, citing the public interest, despite their age.

    Jahanzeb, who will turn 18 at the beginning of next year, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, while Niazal received a sentence of nine years and 10 months.

    Jahanzeb’s attorney, Robert Holt, stated his client traveled solo through Europe, attempting four times to cross the Channel on a small boat before successfully reaching Britain in January. He is expected to be deported after serving his sentence.

    Niazal’s lawyer, Joshua Radcliffe, explained that his client arrived alone in November to escape the Taliban, who had murdered his father, a former Afghan army member. He awaits a decision on his asylum application, though the judge indicated she would recommend his deportation once he completes his sentence.

    Judge de Bertodano emphasized that the teenagers had acted against the interests of those seeking refuge in Britain.

  • Trump promises to halt migration from ‘Third World’ nations after D.C. attack

    Trump promises to halt migration from ‘Third World’ nations after D.C. attack

    The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will initiate an indefinite halt on immigration from all so-called “Third World Countries” in response to an incident near the White House, which he blames on flaws in the Biden administration’s vetting process. Trump did not specify which countries he considers part of this classification or clarify what he means by “permanently pause.” He indicated that current approvals under Biden’s policies would be included in this halt.

    On social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared he would “permanently pause” migration from these nations to allow the U.S. immigration system to recover fully. His plans also involve terminating millions of illegal admissions made during Biden’s tenure, including those signed off on by Biden’s auto-signature device, and removing individuals deemed harmful or unproductive to the country.

    He further announced he would cancel all federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens and pursue the denaturalization of migrants who threaten public peace, as well as deport foreign nationals considered security threats, public charges, or incompatible with Western values.

    Initially, the White House and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not respond to Reuters’ inquiries for comment.

    This announcement follows the fatal shooting of a National Guard member outside the White House, an attack allegedly carried out by an Afghan immigrant. Earlier reports indicated that Trump had ordered a broad review of Biden-era asylum cases and green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan who entered the U.S. in 2021 under a resettlement program established by Biden after the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, was granted asylum earlier this year during Trump’s presidency, according to government records seen by Reuters.

    Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. through a program launched after the fall of Afghanistan’s government in August 2021, an effort to resettle Afghans fleeing the Taliban’s takeover. Trump had previously claimed that hundreds of thousands of Afghan evacuees entered the U.S. during the chaotic airlift, with little vetting.

    The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily halted processing all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals. Trump emphasized his goal of significantly reducing illegal and disruptive populations, asserting that only a complete reversal of migration—”REVERSE MIGRATION”—would resolve the current issues.

    The incident, involving an immigrant shooting at U.S. military personnel on domestic soil, is expected to have lasting political repercussions. Although Lakanwal had legal entry and asylum status, the event fuels Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration policies, focusing on both legal and illegal entries, and emphasizes the need for more rigorous screening processes.

  • Pakistanis among hundreds fleeing to Thailand after Myanmar scam bust

    Pakistanis among hundreds fleeing to Thailand after Myanmar scam bust

    Almost 700 foreigners, including Pakistanis, have escaped Myanmar and crossed into Thailand, according to the Thai military. This surge follows a military operation targeting KK Park, a well-known cybercrime hub.

    Thailand has detained 677 individuals—618 men and 59 women—who entered Tak province at the border. The military stated that Myanmar’s armed forces have taken control of KK Park and are conducting inspections in the area, which has prompted many residents to flee into Thailand.

    The Thai authorities are processing these arrivals legally and are screening them thoroughly. Extra detention centers have been prepared in case current facilities become overcrowded, the military added.

    A video from Thai PBS captured on October 22, 2025, and shared with AFP shows people crossing the Moei River near KK Park from Myanmar into Thailand. The area is recognized internationally for its involvement with cyber scams.

    KK Park’s expansive complex is primarily operated by Chinese criminal groups, with local militia factions aligned with Myanmar’s military guards. The border zones among Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia have become hotspots for online scam operations since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The United Nations reports that billions of dollars have been generated from trafficking hundreds of thousands of people forced to work in these illicit scam factories.

  • Austria DEPORTS First Afghan After Taliban Takeover; More Expected

    Austria DEPORTS First Afghan After Taliban Takeover; More Expected

    Austria has deported an Afghan national back to his home country for the first time since the Taliban took control four years ago, with the conservative-led coalition government in Vienna stating that more deportations are imminent. The government has prioritized tackling illegal immigration, seemingly aiming to diminish support for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) by focusing on one of its key issues.

    The coalition government, consisting of three centrist parties, assumed office in March after the FPO secured a parliamentary victory but was unable to form a governing alliance. Despite this, the FPO continues to lead in opinion polls.

    “Today, a man convicted of serious crimes was expelled to Kabul—the first deportation to Afghanistan since 2021,” tweeted Chancellor Christian Stocker of the Austrian People’s Party. “Austria is sending a clear message: there is zero tolerance for anyone who has forfeited their right to remain by committing crimes,” he added.

    In July, Austria became the first EU country to send a Syrian asylum seeker back home since the conflict there began, despite human rights groups warning that the safety of returnees remains uncertain. Austria has also expressed its intention to restart deportations to Afghanistan despite similar concerns raised by advocates.

    Amnesty International criticized the move, stating that Afghanistan is still one of the most perilous nations globally. “Deporting individuals to a state that commits atrocities against its own people is a willful denial of protection and a violation of law,” the organization declared, urging an immediate halt to such actions.

    Syria and Afghanistan are the leading countries of origin for asylum seekers in Austria. The government has indicated that those slated for deportation will primarily be criminal offenders initially. “The Interior Ministry under Gerhard Karner is preparing additional deportations,” stated Stocker.

    This deportation occurs just one day after the EU announced it has “started exploratory talks” with the Taliban regime aimed at increasing deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants. A coalition of 20 EU member states, led by Belgium, urged Brussels to engage with Kabul to facilitate the return of those with no legal right to stay in Europe.

  • Germany ends expedited citizenship program

    Germany ends expedited citizenship program

    Germany’s parliament on Wednesday revoked a streamlined citizenship program, highlighting the changing attitudes toward migration in Europe’s economic powerhouse.

    During this year’s election campaign, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party committed to repealing the law that allowed highly integrated migrants to acquire German citizenship after just three years instead of the usual five.

    Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that a German passport should symbolize successful integration rather than serve as an enticement for illegal immigration.

    The remaining provisions of the new citizenship law, a key accomplishment of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, will stay in place despite conservative promises to overturn certain reforms—such as removing dual citizenship allowances and shortening the residency requirement from eight to five years.

    The Social Democrats, now the junior partners in Merz’s government, defended their support, noting that few applicants utilized the fast-track process, and that the main liberalization principles remain intact.

    In 2024, a record 300,000 people became citizens, but only a few hundred went through the expedited route, which was originally intended to attract highly skilled individuals to Germany amid severe labor shortages. Applicants must demonstrate notable achievements, like fluency in German, voluntary service, or professional and academic success.

    Filiz Polat of the Greens stated, “Germany is competing globally to attract top talent, and if talented individuals choose Germany, we should do everything we can to retain them.”

    Public sentiment toward immigration has soured considerably, partly because high migration levels have strained local services. This shift in opinion has helped propel the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to lead in some polls.

  • Two Somali women drown; 60 rescued after Channel crossing fails

    Two Somali women drown; 60 rescued after Channel crossing fails

    A group of migrants on an inflatable dinghy departs from the northern coast of France, attempting to cross the English Channel to reach Britain. This scene was captured on the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in Gravelines, near Calais, on August 25, 2025, according to Reuters.

    French authorities reported that two women, both from Somalia, died Saturday while trying to cross the Channel. Additionally, the body of another migrant was found in a canal. Around 100 people were aboard an overloaded boat off Neufchatel-Hardelot early Saturday morning around 3:15 a.m. (0115 GMT), when they made an attempt to reach the UK. The boat’s engine failed to start, and it returned to shore about an hour later, as stated by the local prefecture.

    Civil protection teams managed to rescue and care for 60 migrants, though some who had been on the vessel fled once rescue crews arrived, said Isabelle Fradin-Thirode, an official from nearby Montreuil-sur-Mer. A couple and their child, suffering from moderate hypothermia, were rushed to a hospital in Boulogne.

    The body of a man in his late 20s or early 30s was recovered from a canal in Gravelines, near Dunkirk, according to the prefecture and AFP journalists present at the scene. These incidents have increased the death toll for Channel crossings to at least 26 this year, based on official data compiled by AFP. Since January, a record 32,000 migrants have arrived in Britain via small boats crossing the Channel.

    A recent Franco-British agreement allows the UK to return migrants to France if they are considered ineligible for asylum, including those who have passed through a “safe country” before reaching UK shores. In exchange, London has committed to accepting an equivalent number of migrants from France whose asylum claims are likely to be approved. Despite this deal, the dangerous crossing continues to attract many migrants.

    On Friday, an AFP team in the Gravelines area observed hundreds of migrants preparing to cross whenever weather conditions permitted. Earlier this week, reporters spoke with several migrants at a makeshift camp near Dunkirk, many of whom expressed that they had already endured significant hardships and faced considerable dangers to get so close to their goal. One migrant remarked that crossing the channel in a small boat “is uncertain — you might not survive,” but added, “That’s okay, we still have to try our luck.”