Reply of @ec.europa.eu to my letter of March '25 (!) Re transatlantic data transfers. It is crystal clear that even at this stage of transatlantic relations, the Commission flatly refuses to ensure protection of European citizens’ rights, but relies instead on the “pretence of compliance” policy

We joined 87 other organisations in a statement condemning the EU's proposed Deportation ("Return") Regulation, because increasing surveillance, policing, and racial profiling will only fuel racism and a far-right agenda. The statement: buff.ly/FbcfD1I The @theguardian.com article: buff.ly/Xu3a1sd

Register now for the upcoming event, AI in the Field of Asylum and Immigration Law, to hear more from Statewatch researcher Romain Lanneau. Host: ERA Academy of European Law Dates: 9-10 March 2026 Location: Online More details and registration info: buff.ly/Tjoqhkx

Will you help us improve our work? We've put together a survey on our work in 2025 to understand what you got out of it and how we can improve. It should only take you a few minutes, but it will be a huge help for us! Fill it out here: statewcloud.gn.apc.org/index.php/ap...

This is uncomfortable timing but I have to advertise my second online masterclass on Lebanon, which is starting soon. There are still a few spots available so if you're interested you'll find all the info you need in the thread below. To book: thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass/ Here goes 🧵

"The most important part of the international refugee protection order is the principle that it provides protection." My piece for @bylinetimes.bsky.social on how inhumane and counterproductive Labour's latest changes to the asylum system are in every possible way. bylinetimes.com/2026/03/03/s...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: JamRadio turns 1 today. Built on culture, accountability and community. Thank you for standing with independent media. We are grateful for everyone who’s been part of the journey. #HappyBirthday #JamradioUK

So much will be said about all this in the coming days, but IMO the biggest takeaway is that James Watt and Martin Dickie each pocketed more than the price BrewDog was eventually sold for, while 500 hardworking staff are now out of a job & 220k equity punks don't get a dime. Absolute charlatans.

It’s always brilliant to work with @voiceofdws.bsky.social & these recommendations for the Fair Work Agency are positive & practical & will help make sure the agency is relevant to & trusted by migrant domestic workers

Based on recent levels of grants, it would only take a few years before the number of reviews being processed is higher than the number of initial asylum decisions being taken. Within the first 10 years of reviews, @refugeecouncil.bsky.social estimates between 940k and 1.1m reviews would be needed.

We've just published a document that details the EU's disturbing plans to expand cross-border travel surveillance. The changes include using travel data for new purposes, such as immigration control, and bypassing important safeguards. Read more: buff.ly/N8iffJW

NEW: For the last few years, calls to reform the seasonal worker visa have gone largely ignored Now, the government has even rejected several recommendations from its own independent immigration advisers... Story link in the replies ⬇️ @mellino.bsky.social

Unsurprisingly, the EU's supposedly “new and innovative solution” to migration is a re-packaged and previously rejected one. Read more in the article by @freylindsay.bsky.social: buff.ly/yGtueHB

NEW - JAMRADIO - (EXCLUSIVE) Windrush Statutory Public Inquiry? The Home Office Minister can’t answer a simple question: Why do Post Office Scandal and Infected Blood Scandal victims get full public inquiries, but Windrush Scandal victims don’t?

Been listening to the Civil Fleet podcast for ages, so had a great time babbling on about the 'Libyan Coast Guard' and the other random EU migration shenanigans we track at @statewatch.bsky.social . Thanks to Ben for editing me into something resembling coherence...

🚨NEW EPISODE 🎧 Frey Lindsey from @statewatch.bsky.social tells us how the Libyan Coastguard isn’t a unified organisation but a mixture of armed factions.  
We also discuss a leaked EU document proposing new ‘place of safety arrangements’ with non-European Mediterranean countries.

Statement just sent to me by SOS Humanity: 'Sea-Watch 5 detained: Second Justice Fleet vessel punished for non-communication with Libya'

Very strong words from Mehdi Kassou of BelRefugees on the EU/Belgium working with the Taliban on deportations: "Administration is never neutral when it involves identifying people, classifying them and producing decisions that determine their future, their freedom and sometimes their survival"

Interested in US border control and the experience of claiming asylum? Juliana in Arizona talks about what it's like : blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

The other day I spoke to journalist Adejuwon Soyinka on his new video podcast The Insight, about how the EU wants to ramp up the deportation of Nigerians + West Africans, and how these often brutal 'returns' are already a regular occurence, done largely in secret. www.youtube.com/watch?v=du3I...

Mehrere Abgeordnete der #AfD bejubeln #Trumps Vorgehen in #Venezuela und zeigen ihre Verachtung gegenüber dem #Völkerrecht. Sie folgen Trumps Weltbild: dem Recht des Stärkeren – geprägt vom nationalsozialistischen Vordenker Carl Schmitt.

Are the EU's border policy plans similar to the US? Listen in as Statewatch journalist Frey Lindsay shares the answer on Lagos Talks radio. Want to help change the direction? Follow our bulletin, Outsourcing borders, here: buff.ly/8qfXgJa Speaker: @freylindsay.bsky.social

EU doubles its pullback system in #Libya: Renegade Benghazi to receive control centre and surveillance tower to prevent increasing departures of migrant boats to #Crete. This will benefit the murderous militia TBZ. digit.site36.net/2026/01/06/e...

Leitstelle und Wachturm: Die EU kopiert ihr Hintertür-Modell aus Westlibyen in den Osten. Berüchtigte Milizen sollen damit Geflüchtete auf einer neuen Route nach Kreta abfangen.

The 12th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is out now 🚨 This edition covers: • Efforts to expand Frontex’s mandate • Growing concerns over the EU’s digital border systems • Threats to undermine EU's new migration "solidarity" system And more, here: buff.ly/GK3RMMW

The 11th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is here. Here are some of the updates. 1. Global counter-smuggling alliance: The EU prepares a joint declaration for its global alliance on migrant smuggling, aiming to extend enforcement powers “along the whole route.”

1/ What does the increasing relationship between Europol and private companies mean for our rights and democratic process? That's precisely what we cover in our latest analysis by @giacomoza.bsky.social

"I am convinced that the Sudanese people are capable of making peace and shaping their future." How Sudanese refugees have adapted to displacement in Uganda ⤵️ www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

The 10th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is out now 🚨 It covers: • Progress on plans for major migration routes • Frontex projects proposed in Egypt & Morocco • Potential deportations from EU to Côte d’Ivoire • & more. Full issue, compiled by @freylindsay.bsky.social, here: buff.ly/bWL4McV

Last week at @periodismomigra.bsky.social we had a great conversation w @gonzalofanjul.bsky.social @josebautista.bsky.social about development agencies and EU funds in externalization policies. I wrote about the surveillance component of this EU approach to cooperation gr.boell.org/en/2025/09/3...

🙋 Our colleague @dianavolpe.bsky.social providing much needed insight on how Italy outsources its 'dirty work' to Libya as part of a migration agreement, and why recent attacks on rescue ships are unlikely to turn the tide ⤵️ www.rfi.fr/en/internati...

With the help of @wlacher.bsky.social, analyst Marc Tilley and researcher Diana Volpe, I've attempted something approaching a comprehensive* explainer on what the Libyan Coast Guard is, and is not for @infomigrants.net www.infomigrants.net/en/post/6722...

Labour markets and refugees are increasingly dependent on each other, but the markets always have the upper hand. Aslı Salihoğlu and @cthibos.bsky.social kicking off our new series on refugee labour in the global economy ⤵️ www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

The Libyan Coast Guard - explained @freylindsay.bsky.social @infomigrants.net

The EU’s latest idea is to deport people to countries they have zero connection to. EU member states are talking about changing the “safe third country” rules so they can deport more people—even if it means undermining safeguards. And the Council agrees. Read more: buff.ly/8RuyAP4

I shared some of my thoughts on the relationship between the EU, search and rescue NGOs, and the so-called Libyan coast guard in a conversation with Frey here:

Rescue ship shooting: Where is the EU’s red line with Libya?

Everybody knows the Libyan Coast Guard is involved in the mass abuse/torture/murder of people in Libya. Over the years this hasn't been enough for the EU to break off its partnership. The LCG is now targeting NGOs - apparently that used to be a Commission red line, but we'll see if it still is.

Frontex pays out hundreds of millions of euros every year to EU and Schengen member states. We have visualised the data to show the scale and scope of the funding: more than €2 billion between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2024. Read it here: buff.ly/Tto3m1L

The 9th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is out now 🚨 It covers: • The extensive operations across Africa; • Plans to use development aid as leverage for deportations; • Budget proposals with more external control and less democratic scrutiny; And much more. Read here: buff.ly/K5esfCb

“Ultimately workers and employers both need to know that the workers have the option to withdraw their labour and find another job, and won’t lose their immigration status or risk destitution if they are unable to work" - @focusonlabour.bsky.social, in this new piece by @freylindsay.bsky.social

Kate Roberts @focusonlabour.bsky.social says the Employment Rights Bill (due back in parliament) “won’t do much” for seasonal workers. She says it's essentially incompatible with Labour’s commitment to improving labour standards. ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social

Migrant workers’ legal precarity reveals the incompatibility of Labour’s policies on worker’s rights and immigration. How seasonal workers continue to face exploitation as the visa scheme expands ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social ⤵️ www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

In the last months I've been speaking with young people, NGOs and influencers in Nigeria about how online gambling and gambling scams are exploding - with thousands of young Nigerians (many underage) falling into serious gambling problems and addiction www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

For the World Service, I've been speaking with people struggling with gambling problems in South Africa. NGOs and researchers also told me how Covid and cost-of-living crises have seen an alarming amount of people turning to gambling, just to make ends meet. www.bbc.com/audio/play/w...

Last week the Greek government announced an unlawful asylum suspension for people arriving from N. Africa. Now the new migration minister is pushing a bill to send rejected asylum seekers to prison if they don't return to their home country or Libya. Thanks to @manos.ms and @adrianatdn.bsky.social‬

"New deterrents” are not the solution. This new deal will cause considerable further harm, resulting in the forcible transfer of people back to France. Read @vickytaylor.bsky.social's new piece for @opendemocracy.net :

IMIS and #SFB1604 member @mauricestierl.bsky.social commented to EUalive on the EU's migration control strategy: Framing migration across the Mediterranean as “instrumentalized” might serve as “an attempt to justify further derogations or restrictions on asylum on this route.”

Mitie, a major player in UK immigration detention, has just been awarded $192m to run the infamous Campsfield immigration prison when it reopens later this year. This makes a certain sense - it was Mitie's running of Campsfield which saw it shut in the first place. www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

For ‪@eualive.bsky.social: EU Migration chief Brunner has begun talking about the 'weaponisation' of migration from Libya to the EU, orchestrated by Russia and Belarus - suggesting he may be considering invoking 'hybrid warfare' to justify harsher (or more openly harsh) methods in the Mediterranean.