Recent shifts in U.S. policy have posed significant challenges to the protection of migrants and refugees in Costa Rica, as outlined in a joint report released by Refugees International and the Women’s Refugee Commission. The report emphasizes the detrimental effects of these changes, including the elimination of crucial protection routes and the overburdening of Costa…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the recently re-elected Australian Labor government to harness its foreign policy strategies to advance international human rights. This request was detailed in a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The organization delineates specific measures for Australia to undertake within four principal foreign policy domains. The HRW outlines…
The UK government has unveiled a series of reform policies aimed at tightening immigration rules as part of a broader strategy to address rising migration levels and prevent system abuse. The reforms, articulated in a White Paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, were presented to parliament recently. These measures emphasize significant changes in…
Amnesty International has raised strong objections to recent Polish legislation that suspends the processing of asylum claims for migrants crossing into Poland from Belarus. This law, according to the organization, may lead to the forced return of asylum seekers, contravening international law. Amnesty contends that the legislation enables border guards to dismiss asylum applications without…
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has raised the alarm over severe funding shortfalls, which significantly impact the safety and protection of the world’s most vulnerable refugees. These budget constraints have already led to the dismantling of essential protection programs, increasing the risks of abuse and poverty, and exacerbating the dangers…
A coalition of lawyers has initiated legal proceedings against the Costa Rican government, filing a complaint with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The action is spurred by the alleged prolonged detention of minors deported from the United States back to Costa Rica. This suit, brought by lawyers from organizations such…
In a significant development for Peruvian politics, a court in Lima has sentenced former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, to 15 years in prison. They were found guilty of engaging in aggravated money laundering by accepting illicit financial contributions to fund Humala’s presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011. These contributions were allegedly…
In an ongoing development within the European Union’s border policy landscape, the EU border protection agency, Frontex, has initiated investigations into potential human rights violations by Greece concerning undocumented migrants. This move follows substantial international pressure and scrutiny regarding Greece’s handling of immigration and asylum procedures. Frontex, responsible for coordinating border control efforts among EU…
In a recent development that has raised eyebrows across the legal community, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, a prominent law firm, has committed $100 million in pro bono work to causes aligned with the interests of former U.S. President Donald Trump. This decision, reportedly made to avoid a punitive executive order, has sparked…
The UK Home Office is currently under scrutiny following revelations about dangerous conditions at the Manston holding center for asylum seekers. The inquiry stems from reports of overcrowding and serious health issues at the facility in 2022. An internal document released during a legal hearing has brought to light several allegations, including breaches of human…
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken disciplinary action against attorney Erez Reuveni, placing him on administrative leave for his admission in court regarding a wrongful deportation. Reuveni acknowledged an administrative error by the DOJ that led to the removal of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national fleeing gang violence, from the United…
UN human rights experts have issued a firm appeal to Pakistan, urging the nation to halt its initiatives aimed at displacing Afghan refugees. As voiced by the experts on Friday, the emphasis was on cessation of actions that lead to the internal relocation or deportation of Afghans settled in prominent Pakistani cities such as Islamabad…
In a recent address to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, UK Attorney General Richard Hermer conveyed deep concerns regarding the escalating personal attacks on judges. Hermer emphasized that such actions jeopardize the fundamental pillars of the rule of law and judicial independence. The backdrop to his remarks is the ongoing tension with the Home…
The legal battle over President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to abolish birthright citizenship has intensified as challengers have implored the Supreme Court to maintain existing judicial blocks on the order. Birthright citizenship guarantees citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment since 1868. The executive order,…
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania has made a pivotal decision to accept a class action lawsuit filed by 24 asylum seekers who claim they were unlawfully detained by Lithuanian authorities between 2021 and 2022. This development has been praised by Amnesty International as a significant step toward justice and reparation for those who have…
Amnesty International has raised alarms over the imminent extradition of Syrian refugee and activist Mohamad Alkayali from Türkiye, urging Turkish authorities to immediately halt the process and release him from detention. Amnesty cautions that returning Alkayali to Saudi Arabia could lead to severe human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, an unfair trial, and potential torture…
Poland’s recent decision to suspend the right to asylum for migrants arriving from Belarus has sparked significant discussion and criticism amidst the European and international legal communities. On Thursday, the Polish Council of Ministers adopted a regulation that enforces a 60-day restriction on the right to asylum at the border with Belarus. This decision was…
In a notable move reflecting the changing landscape of international research collaboration, thirteen European Union member countries have taken a step to offer what is being termed “scientific asylum” to researchers affected by policy shifts under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. This initiative follows concerns regarding the defunding of certain areas within…
In a recent development, Amnesty International has voiced strong criticism against the United States for the deportation of 238 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador. The rights organization argues that this action not only endangers the lives of the migrants but also defies a court order intended to protect them from removal. This order was designed…
In anticipation of the federal elections in May, a coalition of over 35 human rights organizations has addressed an open letter to the leaders of Australia’s three major political parties, advocating for a “civil and respectful discourse” regarding refugees and asylum seekers. The plea, underscored by the letter, insists on the necessity of discussions that…
As a Thai delegation embarks on a visit to Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch is calling on Thailand to demand unrestricted access to Uyghur deportees during their stay in China from March 18 to 20, 2025. The visit follows widespread international condemnation over Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghur asylum seekers back to China in February, an…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the European Union’s proposed “Returns Regulation” for undocumented migrants, labeling it as “cruel and unrealistic”. The regulation, which aims to standardize return procedures across member states, is being criticized for its provisions allowing extended periods of detention and stricter treatment of migrants. The European Commission, in advocating for the…
A recent decision by a U.S. federal judge in Massachusetts has sustained a previous ruling that blocks the enforcement of an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which sought to end birthright citizenship. The decision came on Tuesday, when the court denied the Trump administration’s motion to stay a preliminary injunction initially granted…
A coalition of twenty human rights organizations is urging Bulgarian authorities to halt the deportation of Abdulrahman al-Khalidi, a Saudi human rights activist, back to Saudi Arabia. These organizations argue that al-Khalidi, who has been an advocate for human rights and prisoners’ rights for over ten years, should instead be allowed safe passage to a…
The Rwandan government is pursuing legal action to seek £50 million in damages from the United Kingdom following the recent cancellation of a controversial migrant transfer scheme. The scheme, intended to process asylum seekers in Rwanda after denial of their claims in the UK, has faced significant backlash due to human rights concerns and international…