The Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has denied the request from the Nicaraguan government to grant safe passage for its ex-president, Ricardo Martinelli, to leave the country. This decision followed the Nicaraguan government’s move to grant asylum to Martinelli earlier this week. Furthering its stance, the Panamanian Ministry called in the Nicaraguan…
According to official statements, Finland has announced its decision to prolong the closure of its border crossing points with Russia until April 14, 2024. This decision has been taken amidst concerns over weaponized migration and threats to the nation’s security originating from Russia. Notably, this isn’t the first extension issued since the initial border closure,…
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has urged the UK government to halt the impending extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US. Edwards implores the government to carefully evaluate Assange’s appeal, citing severe concerns that his extradition may expose him to treatment that could amount to torture. The Special Rapporteur has…
In a recent move that has businesses and visa holders bracing for impact, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented notable increases in visa charges as part of its strategy to manage its operational costs. This decision, part of a finalized plan, is expected to have significant economic consequences on employers and foreign…
On a fateful Thursday, 131 primarily Rohingya men from Myanmar made their escape from the Bidor Immigration Detention Center located in Perak, Malaysia which resulted in one casualty. This was made public by Ruslin Jusoh, the Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, during a recent announcement. Details about the unfortunate incident were disclosed by Perak police,…
The Law Council of Australia has urged the country’s legislators to prioritize increased funding for legal aid services in the forthcoming 2024-2025 budget deliberations. Greg McIntyre, the council’s president, has stressed the urgency of this action, citing the dire need within the legal assistance sector and the dependence of many Australians on its services. As…
The Constitutional Court of Albania approved on Tuesday an agreement with Italy to establish migrant processing centers under Italian jurisdiction in Albania, allowing migrants saved by Italian ships at sea to be sent to Albania. These centers will be jointly accommodating up to 3,000 detained migrants at any given time. By the end of October…
On Sunday, US lawmakers introduced articles of impeachment against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Allegedly, Mayorkas failed to comply with US law and breached public trust due to his handling of the US-Mexico border and immigration matters. This instance marks the second time in American history that articles of impeachment…
The President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Síofra O’Leary, appealed to the UK government to comply with interim injunctions under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court against the agreement with Rwanda. O’Leary made her statement in a press conference on Thursday in Strasbourg. Last year, the ECHR issued urgent interim measures…
The UK High Court has reportedly found the Secretary of State for the Home Office guilty of operating an unlawful ‘secret policy’. As a result of this policy, over 1,500 modern slavery victims were denied their right of leave to remain. The claimant, referred to as XY in the lawsuit, was abducted and enslaved by…
Germany’s Constitutional Court has ruled to discontinue state funding for Die Heimat, one of the country’s most extreme political entities. This decision intensifies the broader dialogue on the legal restriction of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Once known as the Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD), Die Heimat is a neonazi, ultranationalist force in Germany’s…
The plan of the UK Government to extradite asylum seekers to Rwanda has met a hurdle after the House of Lords voted on Monday, demanding that the government provide substantiation for its claims that Rwanda is a safe country before ratifying a new agreement between the UK and the African nation. This development follows a…
Amidst ongoing politicization and complexities surrounding immigration matters, legal professionals find themselves thrust at the heart of these challenges – notably for those venturing into pro bono immigration practice. Deciphering this intricate landscape calls for a deeper understanding of key deadlines, administrative rules, and idiosyncratic aspects of this particular practice. Steven Malm, a recognized figure…
On Monday, Amnesty International called on Italian lawmakers to reject a pending migration deal with Albania, termed by the organization as “unworkable, harmful and unlawful.” This deal, if ratified, would establish centers in Albania, operating under Italian jurisdiction, for detaining migrants rescued at sea by Italian ships. The agreement was signed in November with the…
Last Thursday, the European Parliament officially invoked a procedure in accordance with Article 7(2) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Parliament has requested that the European Council ascertain whether Hungary has persistently violated EU values outlined in Article 2 of the TEU, particularly in regards to respect for fundamental rights, the rule of…
The German parliament, the Bundestag, has voted in favor of legislation aimed at facilitating the path to citizenship for immigrants. The legislation would abolish longstanding restrictions on holding dual nationalities, making it easier for immigrants to acquire German citizenship alongside their original nationality. The Bundestag voted 382 to 234 to approve this reform. The new…
On Wednesday, the UK government published communications asserting a revised protocol for civil servants in response to the newly introduced Safety of Rwanda Bill. These letters circulated between the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, garnered attention as they were brought into the spotlight shortly before the House of Commons passed the bill. The bill…
In light of a new report by Amnesty International, it appears that fleeing persecution in the North Caucasus region of Russia has become increasingly perilous due to the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and escalating stigmatization in Europe. The human rights organization asserts that European governments must cease the transfer of at-risk individuals back to…
In a controversial move, the UK House of Commons has passed a bill declaring Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers. The legislation, known as the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, faced opposition but was ultimately approved by 320 votes to 276. It seeks to execute the government’s intent to bypass the court’s…
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has alerted that the UK’s recent Rwanda agreement infringes international law, according to a legal analysis published on Monday. This recent assessment is an update to a preceding UNHCR evaluation carried out in June 2022 of the “Legality and Appropriateness of the Transfer of Asylum-Seekers under the UK-Rwanda Arrangement”….
The German investigative journalism organization Correctiv has recently uncovered features of an alleged plot involving members of the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), and several other businessmen. Centered on the concept of “remigration”, this scheme appears to take aim at asylum seekers, foreigners with residency rights, and those citizens perceived to be “non-assimilated”. Reportedly,…
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) has voiced concerns about the migrant situation in the country, drawing attention to its severe humanitarian implications. FTDES accuses the Tunisian government of employing repressive strategies against migrants in exchange for substantial financial and logistical backing from Europe. Key issues raised in the statement include reports…
The US House Homeland Security Committee disclosed on Wednesday that it had initiated its first impeachment hearing against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House Republicans accuse Mayorkas of a breach of public trust and a failure to adhere to immigration law in light of the escalating number of border crossings. Mark Greene, the chairman…
Finnish member of the European Parliament (EP), Petri Sarvamaa, publicly launched a petition this week advocating for the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights within the EU’s decision-making council. The petition closes for signatures by members this Friday. The document, addressed to the President of the EP Roberta Metsola, calls for immediate action against Hungary under…
The question of whether an Oregon man’s lawsuit can proceed even after his removal from the No Fly List was heard by the Supreme Court last Monday. The debate lasted over an hour with some justices suggesting a potential middle-ground solution—assigning federal trial judges to privately review the government’s evidence and determine if someone removed…