African leaders have been urged by a coalition of Human Rights Monitors and Civil Society Organizations (CSOS) to guarantee inclusive and efficient administration in order to enhance the quality of life for their citizens and shield them from violations of human rights.
Armsfree Ajanaku, the director general of the Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation and the coalition’s convener, stated during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday that all lawful and proper measures should be taken to alleviate the predicament of immigrants who are subject to arbitrary and coerced deportations.
The arbitrary deportations of immigrants from the United States have been linked to a number of human rights violations, according to Ajanaku, who also noted that these mass deportations frequently violate the fundamental human rights of immigrants, many of whom are Africans and people of African descent.
“We are concerned about activities that violate rights, dignity, and civilized norms, but we are not suggesting that a nation cannot conduct its affairs as it sees fit. As part of the immigration crackdown, we have witnessed horrifying images as immigrants are arrested in large numbers and their houses are raided.
As parents are taken by force and put in prison centers, we have witnessed families being split apart. We have witnessed harassment of those seeking safety from war zones and political persecution. He claimed that these acts, coming from a nation that takes pride in upholding democracy and human rights, violate the rights of migrants and asylum seekers while depriving them of the chance to request safety and security.
“African governments have a significant role to play in addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians and other Africans in the Diaspora,” the convener of Human Rights Monitors stated, emphasizing that states must establish efficient systems to assist.
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He claimed that in addition to the fact that many of the immigrants who are currently being persecuted are from Africa, African countries have greatly profited from remittances from the diaspora.
Nigerians in the United States alone reportedly contributed $6 billion in remittances home in 2020, according to Ajanaku, who also stated that governments throughout the continent need to set up mechanisms to assist these citizens now that many of them are facing difficulties.
“Refugees and immigrants seeking asylum are lawfully present in the United States under both U.S. and international law, as a result of numerous express provisions of international and local laws,” he said. They shouldn’t be labeled criminals for entering without a visa under any pretext.
Those who have been awarded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by Presidential Order are also covered by this claim. Nigerians, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, Salvadorans, and others escaping dictatorship, war, famine, and egregious human rights abuses are among them.
“All lawful and proper measures should be implemented to resolve the predicament of immigrants suffering arbitrary and forced deportations, as stated in our declaration to the UN Human Rights Council. We demand that national and multinational organizations actively connect with people impacted. This coalition urges human rights experts, civic society, refugee-focused organizations, and UN agencies to offer the assistance and knowledge necessary for the immediate advancement of human rights.
Since the rights of immigrants are human rights, everyone should do their part to prevent unjust and coercive deportations. Importantly, African leaders should guarantee inclusive and efficient administration to improve the lives of their people in the face of nationalism, isolationism, and disrespect for international norms, Ajanaku continued.
