South Africa is witnessing another wave of anti-immigration protests as tensions over undocumented foreign workers continue to escalate. Demonstrators in Cape Town and other regions are demanding stricter immigration controls, a pause on new visas, and action against fraudulent permits.

The unrest follows weeks of deadly anti-immigrant violence, with reports suggesting that more than 176,000 people have fled the country in recent weeks. Protesters argue that tighter immigration policies are necessary to protect jobs and opportunities for South African citizens.

Meanwhile, the African Union has backed South Africa's proposal for a continent-wide dialogue on migration instead of discussing xenophobic violence as a standalone issue. The move highlights growing concerns over migration, border management, and regional cooperation across Africa.

Anti-Immigrant Protest Held in Cape Town | Wion 

South Africa is calling for an Africa-wide conference on migration following weeks of deadly anti-migrant violence and growing tensions over undocumented foreign nationals.

As Africa's largest industrial economy, South Africa has long attracted migrants from across the continent. However, rising unemployment, economic pressures, and concerns over illegal immigration have fueled renewed protests and calls for stricter border controls. Thousands have reportedly fled amid escalating tensions, while anti-illegal immigration demonstrations in Cape Town have demanded tougher action against undocumented migrants, tighter visa policies, and investigations into fraudulent immigration documents.

South Africa Seeks Africa-Wide Migration Summit After Deadly Anti-Migrant Violence | Immigration Crisis

Raul Rodriguez was shaken after he realized that his life was built on a lie. In a matter of seconds, a family secret had shattered the way he saw the world and his place in it.

“That day will never leave my mind. … It’s a terrible feeling,” he says.

It was in April 2018 when federal investigators showed him a shocking document: a Mexican birth certificate with his name on it.

The US birth certificate he’d used for decades was fraudulent. He was an undocumented immigrant. His father, for the first time in Raul Rodriguez’s 54 years of life, confessed that he had been born in Mexico. It was too late. The former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent had just been put on administrative leave, then fired in 2019 as he no longer met the citizenship requirements to be a CBP agent.

Talking to CNN, Rodriguez said he had no idea he’d been born in Mexico before his father’s confession that day, but he knew immediately how serious the situation was. He’d spent nearly two decades working for the US government at the border.

By his estimates, he’d helped deport thousands of people while working for US Customs and Border Protection and before that, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Suddenly, he found himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, fighting for a chance to stay in the United States.

Deportation would mean leaving his wife, an immigration agent, their four children, and five grandchildren behind. His saving grace was the fact that he was a veteran who had served in Iceland and the Persian gulf as a member of the navy police.

As soon as he was placed on leave, and then fired, Rodriguez’s life turned upside down. Many friends that he thought he had made in his many years at the agency disappeared. His phone went quiet and even acquaintances at the local restaurant pretended not to notice him. By his estimate, Rodriguez had deported thousands of undocumented immigrants.

But now, nearly five years later, Rodriguez says he realizes he also gained something surprising after that moment when he learned he wasn’t a US citizen.

In his free time, Rodriguez is doing what he can to support efforts to bring deported veterans back to the United States and help those who’ve recently returned find their footing. He also tries to help advocates track down veterans in immigration custody.

Once his own immigration case is resolved, Rodriguez says he hopes to work more directly with veterans inside and outside the US to help them navigate the immigration system.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Raul Rodriguez was shaken after he realized that his life was built on a lie. In a matter of seconds, a family secret had shattered the way he saw the world and his place in it.

Raul Rodriguez was shaken after he realized that his life was built on a lie. In a matter of seconds, a family secret had shattered the way he saw the world and his place in it. “That day will never leave my mind. … It’s a terrible feeling,” he says. It was in April 2018 when federal investigators showed him a shocking document: a Mexican birth certificate with his name on it. The US birth certificate he’d used for decades was fraudulent. He was an undocumented immigrant. His father, for the first time in Raul Rodriguez’s 54 years of life, confessed that he had been born in Mexico. It was too late. The former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent had just been put on administrative leave, then fired in 2019 as he no longer met the citizenship requirements to be a CBP agent. Talking to CNN, Rodriguez said he had no idea he’d been born in Mexico before his father’s confession that day, but he knew immediately how serious the situation was. He’d spent nearly two decades working for the US government at the border. By his estimates, he’d helped deport thousands of people while working for US Customs and Border Protection and before that, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Suddenly, he found himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, fighting for a chance to stay in the United States. Deportation would mean leaving his wife, an immigration agent, their four children, and five grandchildren behind. His saving grace was the fact that he was a veteran who had served in Iceland and the Persian gulf as a member of the navy police. As soon as he was placed on leave, and then fired, Rodriguez’s life turned upside down. Many friends that he thought he had made in his many years at the agency disappeared. His phone went quiet and even acquaintances at the local restaurant pretended not to notice him. By his estimate, Rodriguez had deported thousands of undocumented immigrants. But now, nearly five years later, Rodriguez says he realizes he also gained something surprising after that moment when he learned he wasn’t a US citizen. In his free time, Rodriguez is doing what he can to support efforts to bring deported veterans back to the United States and help those who’ve recently returned find their footing. He also tries to help advocates track down veterans in immigration custody. Once his own immigration case is resolved, Rodriguez says he hopes to work more directly with veterans inside and outside the US to help them navigate the immigration system. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US border official deported thousands, then learns he is undocumented

The US government plans to collect the DNA of all migrants detained after entering the country illegally, officials said Wednesday.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-deny-citizenship-to-immigrants-who-use-public-benefits-us-242502">Department of Homeland Security</a> (DHS) is developing a plan to take DNA samples from each of the undocumented immigrants and store it in a national database for criminal DNA profiles, they said.&nbsp;

Speaking to journalists on grounds of anonymity, DHS officials said the new policy would give immigration and border control agents a broader picture of the migrant and detainee situation.

And stored on the FBI's CODIS DNA database, it could also be used by others in law enforcement and beyond.

"It does enhance our ability to further identify someone who has illegally entered the country," said one official.

"It will assist other organisations as well in their identification ability."

Watch: US Immigrant raids - over 40 protesters arrested in New York

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Officials said they were in fact required to take the DNA samples by rules about the handling of arrested and convicted people that were issued by the Justice Department in 2006 and 2010, but which had not been implemented.

They said the program for collecting DNA was still being developed, and they did not have a date set for implementation.

Collecting and storing the DNA of people simply detained and not tried or convicted of a crime has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates.

"Forced DNA collection raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns and lacks justification, especially when DHS is already using less intrusive identification methods like fingerprinting," Vera Eidelman, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"This kind of mass collection also alters the purpose of DNA collection from one of criminal investigation to population surveillance, which is contrary to our basic notions of freedom and autonomy," Eidelman said.

Earlier this year the US Border Patrol began performing "rapid DNA" tests on migrants who cross the border as family units to determine if the individuals were actually related and were not making fraudulent claims.

The new program will collect much more genetic information than that program, and will store it.

"This is fundamentally different from rapid DNA," said a second official.

"This is a more-full scope DNA profile."

The US government plans to collect the DNA of all migrants detained after entering the country illegally, officials said Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is developing a plan to take DNA samples from each of the undocumented immigrants and store it in a national database for criminal DNA profiles, they said.

The US government plans to collect the DNA of all migrants detained after entering the country illegally, officials said Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is developing a plan to take DNA samples from each of the undocumented immigrants and store it in a national database for criminal DNA profiles, they said. Speaking to journalists on grounds of anonymity, DHS officials said the new policy would give immigration and border control agents a broader picture of the migrant and detainee situation. And stored on the FBI's CODIS DNA database, it could also be used by others in law enforcement and beyond. "It does enhance our ability to further identify someone who has illegally entered the country," said one official. "It will assist other organisations as well in their identification ability." Watch: US Immigrant raids - over 40 protesters arrested in New York × Officials said they were in fact required to take the DNA samples by rules about the handling of arrested and convicted people that were issued by the Justice Department in 2006 and 2010, but which had not been implemented. They said the program for collecting DNA was still being developed, and they did not have a date set for implementation. Collecting and storing the DNA of people simply detained and not tried or convicted of a crime has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates. "Forced DNA collection raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns and lacks justification, especially when DHS is already using less intrusive identification methods like fingerprinting," Vera Eidelman, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "This kind of mass collection also alters the purpose of DNA collection from one of criminal investigation to population surveillance, which is contrary to our basic notions of freedom and autonomy," Eidelman said. Earlier this year the US Border Patrol began performing "rapid DNA" tests on migrants who cross the border as family units to determine if the individuals were actually related and were not making fraudulent claims. The new program will collect much more genetic information than that program, and will store it. "This is fundamentally different from rapid DNA," said a second official. "This is a more-full scope DNA profile."

US to collect DNA of all undocumented migrants

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-immigration-agency-names-venezuelan-minister-tareck-el-aissami-among-most-wanted-239965">US officials</a> said that some 680 undocumented <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-and-mexican-counterpart-welcome-reduced-flow-of-migrants-237547">migrants</a> were detained in a major series of raids Wednesday at food processing plants in the southeastern United States, part of President Donald Trump's announced crackdown on illegal immigration.

Most of those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were Hispanic migrants, officials said.

TV footage showed lines of arrested migrants heading to buses parked outside the processing plants with their hands behind their backs under the watchful eyes of ICE agents.

Those who were not detained, including some children, stood by waving at their friends and relatives. Several wiped away tears as they gave their farewells.

"Special agents executed administrative and criminal search warrants resulting in the detention of approximately 680 illegal aliens," said Mike Hurst, US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

"They have to follow our laws, they have to abide by our rules, they have to come here legally or they shouldn't come here at all," Hurst said at a news conference.

The US attorney did not spare the employers.&nbsp;

"To those who use illegal aliens for competitive advantage or to make a quick buck, we have something to say to you: If we find that you have violated federal criminal law, we're coming after you," he said.

'Dehumanizing' raids

Matthew Albence, the interim ICE head, said the raids were the result of a year-long investigation.

He said that the children of detained parents will be sent to live with relatives or other families.

Some of the migrants will be released with electronic ankle monitors as they await a court hearing.

ICE agents raided plants in the towns of Morton, Carthage, Canton, Pelahatchie, Sebastopol and Bay Springs, all in the state of Mississippi, officials said.

"After speaking with the agents, I now know that they are identifying illegal immigrants, versus those who are legal, and rounding them up, putting them in buses and carrying them away," Canton Mayor William Truly told the local ABC News television affiliate.

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the mayor of Mississippi state capital Jackson, took to social media to seek help for the migrants.

"I'm calling upon faith institutions in our community to become sanctuaries for our immigrant neighbours and protect them from potential harm," he wrote on his Facebook account.&nbsp;

"The ICE raids are both dehumanizing and ineffective as a tactic for protecting citizens from potential harm."

In June, Trump tweeted that ICE "will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States."

Trump has also tweeted several times about an alleged "invasion" of people crossing the southern border into the United States.

US officials said that some 680 undocumented migrants were detained in a major series of raids Wednesday at food processing plants in the southeastern United States, part of President Donald Trump's announced crackdown on illegal immigration.

US officials said that some 680 undocumented migrants were detained in a major series of raids Wednesday at food processing plants in the southeastern United States, part of President Donald Trump's announced crackdown on illegal immigration. Most of those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were Hispanic migrants, officials said. TV footage showed lines of arrested migrants heading to buses parked outside the processing plants with their hands behind their backs under the watchful eyes of ICE agents. Those who were not detained, including some children, stood by waving at their friends and relatives. Several wiped away tears as they gave their farewells. "Special agents executed administrative and criminal search warrants resulting in the detention of approximately 680 illegal aliens," said Mike Hurst, US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. "They have to follow our laws, they have to abide by our rules, they have to come here legally or they shouldn't come here at all," Hurst said at a news conference. The US attorney did not spare the employers. "To those who use illegal aliens for competitive advantage or to make a quick buck, we have something to say to you: If we find that you have violated federal criminal law, we're coming after you," he said. 'Dehumanizing' raids Matthew Albence, the interim ICE head, said the raids were the result of a year-long investigation. He said that the children of detained parents will be sent to live with relatives or other families. Some of the migrants will be released with electronic ankle monitors as they await a court hearing. ICE agents raided plants in the towns of Morton, Carthage, Canton, Pelahatchie, Sebastopol and Bay Springs, all in the state of Mississippi, officials said. "After speaking with the agents, I now know that they are identifying illegal immigrants, versus those who are legal, and rounding them up, putting them in buses and carrying them away," Canton Mayor William Truly told the local ABC News television affiliate. Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the mayor of Mississippi state capital Jackson, took to social media to seek help for the migrants. "I'm calling upon faith institutions in our community to become sanctuaries for our immigrant neighbours and protect them from potential harm," he wrote on his Facebook account. "The ICE raids are both dehumanizing and ineffective as a tactic for protecting citizens from potential harm." In June, Trump tweeted that ICE "will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States." Trump has also tweeted several times about an alleged "invasion" of people crossing the southern border into the United States.

US immigration raids sweep up hundreds of undocumented migrants

Hundreds of undocumented migrants surged into the Pantheon in central Paris on Friday. Watch this video to know more.

Paris: 700 undocumented migrants surged into the Pantheon

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