CSOs Task African Leaders On Effective Governance To Protect Immigrants‘ Rights

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) and Human Rights Monitors has called on African leaders to ensure inclusive and effective governance to improve the lives of their citizens and protect them against human rights abuses.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, convener of the coalition and director general of the Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation, Armsfree Ajanaku, insisted that all legal and legitimate steps should be taken to address the plight of immigrants facing forced and arbitrary deportations.

Ajanaku observed that there had been various human rights violations connected to the arbitrary deportations of immigrants from the United States, saying in many cases, these sweeping deportations violate the fundamental human rights of immigrants, many of whom are Africans and people of African descent.

„While we are not saying that a country cannot run its affairs as it deems necessary, our concern is about actions which undermine rights, dignity and civilised norms. In the context of the immigration crackdown, we have seen shocking scenes in which the homes of immigrants are raided, and their mass arrests effected.

„We have seen families being torn apart as parents are forcefully removed and placed in detention facilities. We have seen people fleeing war zones and political persecution being harassed for seeking refuge. These actions, from a country which prides itself as the bastion of democracy and human rights, violate the rights of asylum-seekers and migrants, while denying them the opportunity to ask for safety and security,“ he said.

The Human Rights Monitors convener said African governments have a significant role to play in addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians and other Africans in the Diaspora, insisting that governments must put in place effective systems to help.

He said, apart from the fact that Africa is the continent of origin of many of the immigrants being currently harassed, African governments have benefited hugely from diaspora remittances.

Ajanaku pointed out that in 2020, Nigerians in the United States alone reportedly sent home remittances worth $6 billion, saying that now that many of these fellow citizens face challenges, governments across the continent must establish modalities to support them.

He said that in light of many express provisions of international and municipal laws, refugees and immigrants seeking asylum are lawfully present in the US under both US and international law. Under no guise should they be tagged criminals for entering without visas.

„This assertion similarly applies to persons granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by Presidential Order. They include: Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, Salvadorans, Nigerians, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, and others fleeing dictatorship, war, famine and gross human rights violations.

„As noted in our statement to the UN Human Rights Council, all legal and legitimate steps should be taken to address the plight of immigrants facing forced and arbitrary deportations. We call for robust engagement with those affected through national and multilateral agencies. This coalition calls on the United Nations agencies, civil society, refugee-focused organisations, and experts on human rights to provide the support and expertise for the immediate improvement of human rights.

„Immigrants’ rights are human rights; as such, the fight against forced and discriminatory deportations should be a collective responsibility. Importantly, in the face of nationalism, isolationism and disregard for international norms, African leaders should ensure inclusive and effective governance to make life better for their people,“ Ajanaku added.