In order to enhance the lives of their citizens and shield them from violations of human rights, a coalition of Human Rights Monitors and Civil Society Organizations (CSOS) has urged African leaders to guarantee inclusive and efficient administration.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Armsfree Ajanaku, the director general of the Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation and the coalition’s convener, emphasized that all lawful and proper measures should be taken to alleviate the predicament of immigrants who are being forcibly deported.
Numerous human rights violations have been linked to the arbitrary deportations of immigrants from the United States, according to Ajanaku, who also noted that these mass deportations frequently violate the fundamental rights of immigrants, many of whom are Africans and people of African descent.
We are not advocating that a nation cannot conduct its affairs as it sees fit; rather, we are concerned about activities that compromise civilized values, rights, and dignity. Amidst the immigration crackdown, we have witnessed horrifying incidents where immigrants’ houses are raided and mass arrests are made.
We have witnessed parents being forcibly removed and put in detention centers, tearing families apart. People have been harassed for seeking safety after escaping conflict areas and political persecution. These measures undermine the rights of migrants and asylum seekers while depriving them of the chance to request safety and security, he said, coming from a nation that takes pleasure in upholding democracy and human rights.
Insisting that governments establish efficient mechanisms to assist, the Human Rights Monitors convener stated that African nations have a vital role to play in tackling the difficulties encountered by Nigerians and other Africans living abroad.
According to him, African governments have greatly profited from diaspora remittances, in addition to the fact that many of the immigrants who are currently hounded are from Africa.
Ajanaku noted that Nigerians living in the United States alone reportedly contributed $6 billion in remittances home in 2020. He said that governments throughout the continent need to set up mechanisms to assist these fellow citizens, since many of them are currently facing difficulties.
He claimed that refugees and immigrants seeking asylum are legally present in the United States under both US and international law, citing numerous explicit provisions of both international and local laws. They should never be labeled criminals for entering without a visa.
This claim also holds true for those who have been given Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by a presidential order. Among them are people from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, El Salvador, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and other countries who are escaping dictatorship, war, starvation, and egregious human rights abuses.
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As stated in our submission to the UN Human Rights Council, the situation of immigrants who are subject to arbitrary and coerced deportations should be addressed in all lawful and proper ways. We urge strong national and multinational agency engagement with those impacted. This alliance calls on the UN agencies, civic society, organizations that focus on refugees, and human rights experts to offer the assistance and knowledge necessary for the immediate advancement of human rights.
“The fight against discriminatory and forced deportations should be a collective responsibility because immigrants’ rights are human rights.” Ajanaku continued, “African leaders should make sure inclusive and effective governance to make life better for their people in the face of nationalism, isolationism, and disrespect for international norms.”
