Braverman says Labour would ‘make Britain dumping ground’ for EU migrants
Telegraph
23-09-14 22:00
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has accused opposition Labour party leader Keir Starmer of wanting to “make Britain the dumping ground” for EU migrants. Braverman’s comments came after Starmer suggested that a Labour government could agree to accept a quota of asylum seekers from the EU in return for being able to return migrants who cross the English Channel illegally. The EU has proposed a burden-sharing agreement that would see countries accepting at least 30,000 migrants annually. Labour has said that any agreement would be worked out by a future Labour government, and would be a “safe, controlled and managed pathway”.
Labour won’t sign up to EU migrant-sharing scheme, Yvette Cooper confirms
Telegraph
23-09-15 17:53
Labour's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has stated that a Labour government would not sign up to the EU's existing migrant-sharing scheme. Cooper's comments come in response to claims by Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, that Labour's immigration policy could result in 100,000 EU migrants coming to the UK every year. Cooper clarified that Labour's plans would focus on safe routes for children with family in the UK and that the party would seek a returns agreement with other European countries. The Conservatives have accused Labour of having an "open border policy."
Labour won’t sign up to EU migrant-sharing scheme, Yvette Cooper confirms
Telegraph
23-09-15 17:53
Labour's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has stated that a Labour government would not sign up to the EU's existing migrant-sharing scheme. Cooper's comments come in response to claims by Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, that Labour's immigration policy could result in 100,000 EU migrants coming to the UK every year. Cooper clarified that Labour's plans would focus on safe routes for children with family in the UK and that the party would seek a returns agreement with other European countries. The Conservatives have accused Labour of having an "open border policy."
Lampedusa: 'An operational crisis, not a migration crisis'
Deutsche Welle
23-09-16 08:28
The Italian island of Lampedusa is facing a "tipping point" in terms of migration management, with local authorities declaring a state of emergency as many as 7,000 migrants arrived on the island in a single week. This compares to 400 places in the island's reception centre. The majority of those arriving on the island are setting off from Tunisia, which is close by, according to Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesperson for the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). The island's mayor, Filippo Mannino, has told the media that while migrants have always been welcomed, Lampedusa is "in crisis". Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for extraordinary measures to deal with the landings, including the possibility of a naval mission to stop arrivals. However, Di Giacomo said that the situation is not a migration crisis for Italy, but a "mainly operational emergency" for Lampedusa, as 70% of arrivals this year have been on the island. The Italian government has failed to increase the reception centre's capacity since it was set up in 2008, Di Giacomo added.
Government could pay millions in compensation over asylum seeker data breach
Guardian
23-09-16 20:00
The Australian government could be liable for tens of millions of dollars in compensation to asylum seekers after their personal details were published online while they were in immigration detention. The 2014 data breach saw information on nearly 10,000 asylum seekers used to threaten, persecute or imprison their family members. A decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal now means that those who suffered “extreme loss and damage” could be eligible for more than AUD20,000 ($15,180) each in compensation. The total cost to the Australian government could run to tens of millions of dollars. However, not all those affected will be allowed to claim compensation. The data breach was discovered in 2014 by The Guardian Australia. The information, which remained online for 17 days, was accessed more than 100 times from IP addresses in Russia, Egypt, China and Pakistan, as well as from masked, anonymous locations.
Amid migrant influx, top EU official to visit Lampedusa
Deutsche Welle
23-09-17 00:11
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plan to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa where thousands of migrants arrived this week from Tunisia. Meloni said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening that Italy needs the EU's help to handle the emergency. "The migratory pressure Italy has been experiencing since the beginning of the year is unsustainable," said the far-right politician. As images of chaotic conditions on the island spread, she is under pressure to deliver on a campaign promise to end migration.
The Mediterranean migrant crisis could collapse the EU
Telegraph
23-09-17 08:00
Keir Starmer's plan to strike a deal with the EU over migrants, offering to take asylum-seekers from elsewhere on the continent in exchange for France and other countries taking back those who have arrived in Britain illegally, has been criticised. The EU has failed to build an effective system to deal with migration and has a voluntary resettlement scheme that many member states have not participated in. The lack of agreement on how to handle migrants threatens to tear apart the EU and may lead to a reaction from countries highly exposed to migrant flows.
Biden administration considers raising refugee ceiling in next fiscal year, source says
CNN
23-09-18 15:42
The Biden administration is considering raising the number of refugees who could be admitted to the United States next year, according to a source familiar with the discussions, as the program ramps up and is on track to meet higher admissions.
Migrants burst into southern Mexico asylum office demanding papers
Associated Press
23-09-18 21:28
Migrants, primarily from Haiti, stormed an asylum office in Tapachula, Mexico, on Monday, demanding papers. The migrants pushed past National Guard officers and police stationed at the office, causing some individuals to be trampled in the rush. The asylum office in Tapachula has been overwhelmed with appointment requests, with some migrants having to wait for weeks. Many migrants intend to use the asylum papers to travel to the U.S. border. Mexico is on track to receive a record number of asylum applications this year, with the flow of migrants overwhelming several Latin American countries along the migratory route. The director of Mexico’s refugee agency predicts that asylum applications could reach 150,000 by the end of the year.
UK now spending £8m a day housing migrants in hotels
The Independent
23-09-19 12:19
The cost of housing asylum seekers in the UK has reached £8m ($11m) per day, totalling over £3bn per year, according to the Home Office's annual report. This represents a significant increase from the previous cost of £6m per day. The report also highlights a record backlog of asylum cases in the country. The Home Office has called for measures to stop illegal migration and relieve pressure on the asylum system. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised the Conservative government for failing to address the issue, stating that taxpayers are now paying the price for their "utter failure".
Hamilton to receive just over $1M from province for asylum seeker housing supports
CBC
23-09-19 19:15
Hamilton, Ontario is receiving $1,076,400 through the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to support asylum seekers and other vulnerable populations in the region. The funds are part of a total investment of $42 million by the province. The COHB provides a monthly benefit to eligible households to help pay their rent. Toronto will receive over $26 million, while other municipalities, including Halton, Niagara, Brantford, and Norfolk, will also receive funds. Hamilton's men's shelters have been over capacity since October 2022, and there is limited space at other shelters in the city.
Joe Biden to give legal status to half a million Venezuelan asylum seekers
Telegraph
23-09-21 19:49
The US government will grant "temporary protected status" to around 470,000 Venezuelans who have fled political and economic instability in their home country and arrived in the US by July 31. This will give them the legal right to live and work in the country. The move comes as the number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border reaches near-record levels, with Border Patrol agents apprehending around 6,900 migrants a day in the first 20 days of September. The total number of migrants arriving in the US this month is expected to reach 210,000, just shy of the all-time record figure of 220,000 set in December 2022. Democratic officials in cities such as New York, Massachusetts, and Chicago have complained about the strain that the influx of migrants has put on their resources.
After a lull, asylum-seekers adapt to US immigration changes and again overwhelm border agents
Associated Press
23-09-21 18:30
Migrants from China have surrendered to a Border Patrol agent in remote Southern California as agents have become overwhelmed by the number of asylum-seekers on parts of the US border with Mexico. In tiny Eagle Pass, Texas, nearly 6,000 migrants crossed from Mexico into the US in two days, prompting authorities to close one of the town’s two official border crossings. Border crossings have closed recently for similar reasons in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. The Homeland Security Department said it would grant Temporary Protected Status to an estimated 472,000 Venezuelans who were in the US on July 31, easing paths to work authorization. The administration is also sending 800 active-duty military troops to the border, adding to 2,500 National Guard members there. It’s expanding border holding facilities by 3,250 people to nearly 23,000, and extending home surveillance nationwide for families awaiting initial asylum screenings. The administration renewed pressure — and blame — on Congress, which has long failed to agree on changes to the nation’s immigration system. The Biden administration is now asking Congress for $4 billion in emergency funding.
Cyprus calls on the EU to rethink Syrian safe zones for eventually repatriating Syrian migrants
Associated Press
23-09-22 08:44
Cyprus has called on the European Union (EU) to re-evaluate which areas of Syria can be considered safe and free from armed conflict, in order to repatriate Syrian migrants. The Cypriot Interior Ministry argues that its proximity to the region has made it a prime destination for Syrian migrants, with the country now hosting a migrant population of 6% – higher than the EU average. Cyprus proposes that the EU initially re-examines whether conditions on the ground in Syria have changed enough for Syrians to be safely repatriated. The practicalities of repatriation would be decided at a later stage, potentially starting with Syrians from declared safe zones.
Bibby Stockholm clear of legionella before reopening to asylum seekers
The Independent
23-09-22 13:04
The Bibby Stockholm migrant barge in the UK will reopen to asylum seekers after being given the all-clear from legionella bacteria. The vessel was evacuated last month after traces of the bacteria were found in the water system. The Home Office said that asylum seekers would return to the vessel in due course. The barge will eventually house 500 asylum seekers. Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease if a person breathes in droplets of infected water. Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, and chest pain.
The UK Home Office has been ordered to halt work on converting a former RAF base into an asylum centre due to concerns that planning conditions have been breached. The government plans to house up to 2,000 people at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, with the first 50 due to arrive at the site within weeks. However, the West Lindsey District Council has served an enforcement notice and a stop notice, stating that there has been a breach of planning control. The breach relates to the listed buildings and archaeology at the site. The council had previously issued a temporary stop notice in September.
Asylum seekers in Italy told to pay to avoid detention
Reuters
23-09-22 15:41
The Italian government has announced that asylum seekers will have to pay €4,938 ($5,259) to avoid detention while their request for protection is being processed. The move is seen as an attempt to deter migrants, as the country faces a surge in new arrivals. The government also plans to increase the number of detention centers and the amount of time people can be detained. Human rights groups have criticized the measure, calling it ridiculous and questioning how migrants will be able to afford the bail. Italy does not have repatriation deals with many of the countries where migrants come from, making deportation difficult. In 2022, Italy rejected 53.5% of asylum requests.
US border city ‘at breaking point’ amid surge in refugee, migrant arrivals
Al Jazeera
23-09-24 03:21
The city of El Paso has said it is at breaking point after thousands of migrants and refugees continue to cross the US border from Mexico. More than 9,000 people crossed the border on Saturday, with 2,000 people per day seeking asylum in El Paso. The surge in migrants has put pressure on resources and filled up shelters. Oscar Leeser, the mayor of El Paso, said the city had reached a breaking point, while the city of Eagle Pass has declared a state of emergency.
Migrants Entering U.S. Illegally Complain About Government’s Border App
WSJ
23-09-24 13:02
Thousands of migrants crossing the Rio Grande have become frustrated with the waiting times to get an appointment on the smartphone app the US government wants them to use. Many migrants have stated that the app offers appointments several months in the future, a duration that they are not willing to wait after a long journey from countries such as Venezuela. As a result, many migrants have decided to enter the US illegally and risk deportation instead of waiting for an appointment.
Baerbock criticizes late change to EU migrant reforms
Deutsche Welle
23-09-24 17:06
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for the swift implementation of the European Union's migration policy reforms. She expressed concern over the European Commission's proposal to add a crisis regulation to the Common European Asylum System, warning that it could lead to a surge in unregistered refugees being forwarded to Germany. The proposed amendments would provide greater flexibility in the event of a large influx of migrants and refugees. Baerbock argued that the crisis regulation would put further strain on German public sector resources at the local level.
