migrants

Djibouti has called on the international community to provide assistance as the war in Yemen pushes a growing flow of refugees and migrants across the Red Sea to its shores. The small Horn of Africa nation says it is struggling to cope with the influx, and is seeking support for shelter, food and aid services for those fleeing the conflict.

European ministers meeting on migration policy are discussing stronger border controls and accelerated procedures for returning migrants whose asylum claims are rejected. The talks reflect mounting political pressure across the bloc to curb irregular arrivals and speed up deportations, an issue that has divided member states and featured prominently in recent European election campaigns. Details of any concrete agreement were not immediately available.

US immigration officers have reportedly been instructed to stop arresting immigrants who have no criminal record, according to a news report. The directive, if confirmed, would mark a shift in enforcement priorities away from non-criminal immigrants. Details on who issued the instruction and how widely it applies have not been made clear, and the report is drawing attention amid ongoing debate over US immigration policy.

Germany's interior minister has called for faster deportation procedures for migrants who cross into the country as part of mass border crossings. The proposal signals a tougher stance on irregular migration and comes amid ongoing political debate in Germany and the wider EU over border controls, asylum rules and the pace of removing people whose applications are rejected.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants the EU border agency Frontex to build a rapid intervention force able to respond quickly to mass arrivals of migrants, citing the 2021 situation in Ceuta as an example. The proposal would also expand Frontex's powers, adding to the ongoing debate in Germany and Europe over migration control and the future of EU border protection.

Tens of thousands of people have attended a right-wing protest in Spain over the migrant situation in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. The demonstration reflects growing public anger over migration flows to the territory, which has repeatedly been a flashpoint between Spain and Morocco. The rally underscores rising political tension in Spain over immigration policy.

Protesters in Broadview, Illinois, lined the lawn of the local immigration detention center with symbolic tombstones as part of a vigil for immigrant rights. The display was intended to honor migrants who have died or suffered in custody and detention-related circumstances, and to press for more humane immigration enforcement policies in the United States.

Pope Leo has issued his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with the full text published by Catholic media. The message addresses the Catholic Church's position on the treatment of migrants and refugees, a topic of heightened debate worldwide. Readers and commentators are sharing and parsing the text for its guidance on migration policy and the Church's response to displaced people.

A letter to the editor in the Tampa Bay Times argues that the United States needs more immigrants, not fewer, for the sake of the economy. The writer contends that immigration supports economic growth, likely referencing labor shortages and demographic pressures facing American businesses and the workforce.

Tens of thousands of people are marching in Madrid to protest against unauthorised migration into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. The demonstration comes amid renewed tensions over arrivals in the border city, and participants are demanding stricter action from the Spanish government to control migration into the territory.

Demonstrators gathered in San Francisco for a rally demanding an end to deportations to Haiti, framing the action around human rights. The event was part of a national day of action coordinating similar protests across the United States in support of Haitian migrants and against removal flights.

Utopia 56, a French association helping migrants and exiles, says it was targeted by a cyberattack on Thursday evening. The group shared the news through supporter networks, with the report circulating under tags of solidarity and migration. The motive and extent of the attack have not been detailed, and reactions have focused on support for the organisation and concern over hostility toward migrant aid groups.