Naiker Associates

03/12/2025

Worrying development in the US in the past 24 hours. Raids by ICE to begin in Minnesota on the Somali community. Innocent Somalis who are US citizens will be caught up in this and perhaps unlawfully detained. Somalis are also stopped from becoming citizens in the US until further notice. One of 19 countries stopped from the pathway to citizenship in the US.

It is the latest part of the Trump administration's renewed immigration crackdown in the wake of a deadly DC shooting.

02/12/2025

Another end of the year community leaders get together at Multicultural Australia. Great to catch up with Giri (Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner) and Jo Nelson (MA CEO). Had an insightful discussion with Giri about the submission to the Attorney General Office with regard to removing the word “religion” from the updating to the definition of the word Terrorism. Can’t wait for consultation rounds by the AG’s office on 2026. Thank you JD for the photos.

08/11/2025

Saudi Jawazat to launch a new “Self-Deportation Platform” allowing illegal residents in Saudo Arabia to complete deportation procedures digitally without visiting Jawazat offices.

28/10/2025

Complimentary resettlement pathways for high preforming refugee students finally happening after years of lobbying. Many parts of Europe and Canada have been doing this for years, why can't Australia. These are students with a proven track record of academic excellence that plan to fill our skills shortage. Monitoring this cohort of 20 student will be crucial for the sustainability of this pilot programs.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/osamah-is-the-first-to-arrive-in-australia-on-this-visa/qfzb5c87h

30/05/2025

Saudi Arabia blocks work visas from 14 countries. Australia not affected. This is to limit flow of visitors during peak travel periods that coincide with religious travels.

Saudi Arabia halts block work visa quotas for 14 countries, including India, Algeria and Pakistan, until June 2025.

12/05/2025

USA widens the definition of what is a refugee by allowing White South African resettlement plans. Most of the them would have suffered the same treatment as white farmers did in Zimbabwe. We have to note that discrimination is a very low threshold for proving to be a refugee, but if there is systemic discrimination, then it takes it to a different assessment level which this group must have met. This move not necessarily opens the door for Australian resettlement as in country applicants have a high vetting process which the US clearly does not.

Donald Trump says they are victims of "racial discrimination", which is strongly denied by South Africa.

29/03/2025

In 2009 when I was completing my Masters in International Law degree at Sydney Uni, for my International Criminal Law classes I wrote a paper on how former PM of Guinea Moussa Dadis Camara should be charged for war crimes for the 2009 Stadium Massacres; which he finally was in 2022 and sentence to 20 years in absentia. He has now returned to Guinea with early release and pardoned by the current regime. Will the victim get their payout as agreed to is another question. I did end up getting a high distinction grade for the class. Keeping up with African politics is a whole another level.

Moussa Dadis Camara, pardoned on health grounds, was less than a year into a 20-year sentence.

29/01/2025

USA refugee resettlement program on indefinite hold. The "Burden" sharing of other western states need to step up to fill the shortfall, which will most likely not happen as this topic is very political. Entering into an election year, we see no change to the resettlement program in Australia or any pressure from allies to increase our quota. With recent events in Goma, DR Congo; the need for resettlement is ever increasing in number with spaces in short supply. This year we could fall well below the 1% resettled every year.

Resettlement agencies were told on Friday some of their federal funding awards were "immediately suspended."

29/01/2025

Columbia last week, this week India on Trump's agenda on immigration reforms and deportations. Source countries should be more accepting of their nationals who are being deported. Identity checks are mandatory prior to deportation. Will be interesting to see Iran's approach to this matter as it is a sticky point, as we know from our Australian experience.

Trump and Modi spoke on Monday, their first interaction since the US president took office last week.

09/12/2024

Syrian Asylum seekers application reassessment. Only time will tell. This turning of events could even end up in northern Iraq as the elements are preexisting.

Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Greece have all said they will suspend asylum decisions for now.

28/11/2024

Trump’s pledge to pursue ‘mass deportation’ is likely to increase demand for detention facilities and surveillance.

23/09/2024

Puntland, another hotspot to keep an eye on for developments in coming months. Egypt has now warned its citizen to leave as Ethiopia continues to send arms to the region as uncertainty escalates.

Somalia has accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to its northeastern Puntland region amid growing tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbours.