International Organization for Migration

Liberia received its first deportation flight from the U.S. under an agreement to accept up to 1,200 foreign nationals over the next year. Many of the deportees, including nationals from Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia, are seeking protection because they fear returning to their home countries due to potential torture or abuse. Liberian officials emphasized that the arrivals are treated as guests until legal proceedings regarding pending protection claims have been finalized.

Burma's government approved the death penalty for internet scammers who commit violence or torture, following the FBI's seizure of $8 billion in Bitcoin from a scam network in the country. The new law also mandates 10-year prison sentences for forced labor in cybercrime, as international organizations highlight the issue of trafficking victims in scam operations.

The UN's migration agency warns that criminal networks are trafficking hundreds of thousands of people, including educated English speakers, into online scam centers via fake job ads. Victims are forced to participate in scams through violence, threats, and debt bondage, with losses in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand reaching $114 billion last year.

Jamaica's government reported that two of three US-deported citizens to Eswatini rejected offers to return to Jamaica, citing unwillingness to repatriate. The US has faced criticism for third-country deportations to Eswatini, a nation with authoritarian governance and human rights concerns. Jamaica is seeking diplomatic resolution with the US and Eswatini.

Jamaica's government confirmed two of its citizens deported by the US to Eswatini have rejected offers to return to Jamaica. The third citizen remains uncontacted, and Jamaica is working with the US and Eswatini to resolve the situation. The US deportations to Eswatini have faced criticism from human rights groups due to the kingdom's political environment.

Over 500 Rohingya refugees are feared dead after two boats capsized in the Bay of Bengal, with one sinking off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed grave concern, citing dangerous monsoon conditions and ongoing risks for stateless Rohingya fleeing persecution.

More than 500 people are feared dead after two boats carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal. The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expressed grave concern over the potential loss of life, highlighting the dangerous monsoon conditions and lack of sustainable solutions for stateless Rohingya refugees.

A boat carrying approximately 60 migrants capsized off eastern Libya, resulting in at least 50 deaths or missing persons, with 10 survivors. The incident occurred near Bardaa Island, highlighting Libya's role as a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, amid ongoing chaos since the 2011 uprising.

More than 646,000 displaced Lebanese have returned home following a ceasefire, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Israeli attacks have killed around 4,300 people and displaced over one million, primarily in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, with approximately 500,000 still displaced as of 22 June.

Venezuelans are conducting their own searches for missing loved ones after back-to-back earthquakes, citing insufficient government rescue efforts. International aid teams are arriving as the death toll rises to 920 dead and 3,360 injured, with families pleading for equipment to recover survivors from debris.

Back-to-back earthquakes in northern Venezuela killed at least 589 people and injured thousands, with rescue efforts ongoing as the death toll approaches 600. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the toll, highlighting La Guaira as the hardest-hit area, while the International Organization for Migration reported up to 6.76 million people affected. Rescuers and neighbors search rubble for survivors, with many displaced and thousands missing.

Back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela killed at least 589 people, prompting neighbors and rescue crews to search for survivors in rubble. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported ongoing efforts in La Guaira, with international aid and military support. Thousands remain missing as buildings collapsed and families search for loved ones.

Mexico, like the United States, grants automatic citizenship to children born on its soil. The article highlights Vivianne Petit Frere, a Haitian immigrant in Tijuana, whose granddaughter is a Mexican citizen by birth, and discusses President Donald Trump's controversial order to restrict U.S. birthright citizenship, which faces Supreme Court review.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Haiti amid escalating gang violence that has displaced over 1.5 million people and killed 2,300 this year. A new UN-backed gang-suppression force, approved by the Security Council, will replace an underfunded Kenyan-led mission and include troops from Jamaica, Chad, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

The Trump administration plans to deport Iranian asylum-seekers and other migrants to the Central African Republic (CAR) under a third-country agreement. The first flight could include 20 people, including Syrians and Afghans, with two Iranian women facing potential torture if returned to Iran. CAR, a politically unstable nation with a history of coups, will house deportees in Bangui without immediate repatriation.

More than 13,000 people have been displaced in South Darfur due to ongoing tribal clashes between the Beni Halba and Salamat tribes. An International Organization for Migration (IOM) report indicates 11,630 displacements occurred between June 4 and 6 alone in Kubum locality.

More than half of 15 Latin Americans deported from the US to Congo under Trump-era policies have returned to their home countries, with some using an IOM-assisted voluntary return program despite US court protections against deportation. The Congolese government states further departures are planned, while rights lawyers challenge similar practices in Equatorial Guinea.

The World Health Organization (WHO) significantly reduced the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from an initial estimate of nearly 1,000. The updated figures were announced at a hybrid press briefing involving WHO representatives and other international organizations.

Volunteers in Congo's Bunia are preparing meals for Ebola patients and health workers amid a Bundibugyo virus outbreak, with 321 confirmed cases and 48 deaths reported. Uganda closed its border with Congo, while the International Organization for Migration urged cross-border coordination to prevent virus spread.

A migrant camp initially intended to be temporary will remain open until 2030 due to a secret deal. The deal's details and implications are being revealed. This extension raises questions about immigration policies and their long-term effects.

The US has deported 15 Latin Americans to Congo, where they face an uncertain future and are given impossible choices by the International Organization for Migration. The deportees are allowed to leave their hotel only once a week and are supervised at all times. A new US court ruling may impact their situation.

The article discusses the potential for middle powers to support migrants using underused legal tools. It highlights two specific tools that could be utilized. The goal is to promote action from these countries.

The Global Compact is making progress, but migration journeys are becoming more dangerous due to shifting routes. Despite efforts, the risks associated with migration are increasing. The situation is complex and multifaceted.

In 2025, nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Over 40% of these deaths and disappearances occurred on sea routes to Europe, as reported by a UN agency.