Immigration has become an important issue for the people of the world. Recently there has been wide media coverage of the issue following immigrants’ demonstrations, which flooded the streets in the USA demanding for a relaxed immigration law that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants to live and work in the country. In these demonstrations protesters from Africa and other countries including Native Americans joined thousands of Mexican and Latino protesters expressing their desire for a policy of compassion that would take into consideration basic human rights.

     Millions of people in the world have been forced to leave their countries of origin, and live as immigrants in Europe, Canada, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The highest number of immigrants lives in Europe, Africa and North America respectively.

     For many Africans the issue of immigration is important, as there is a plethora of people affected by this problem. Tribal wars, natural calamities, famine and political persecution are the major causes for people to leave their homes and flee to other countries to find a safe haven. The huge influx of refugees from Darfur in the Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and other African countries, into the neighboring African countries is a clear testimony of the fact how tribal conflicts, wars, drought and famine disrupt the lives of people. Africa does not have enough resources to provide to the millions of needy refugees migrating to the neighboring countries in search of a safe haven. The UNHCR and other humanitarian organization are actively involved in relief and development effort in Africa to safe the lives of millions of Africans affected by wars, tribal conflicts and political persecutions.

     In the face of this colossal problem, it is gratifying to note the cooperation of African Governments with the international agencies to facilitate the implementation of the refugee assistance program. One of the ways to do this is through the relaxation of their immigration policies and provision of free passage. However, the existence of limited resources to accommodate these refugees handicaps these governments. Despite all problems a number of Africans have found new homes in other African countries and the international community is pulling collective effort to alleviate the problems facing millions of African refugees.

     On the other hand, political persecutions and tribal wars are rampant in Africa and are responsible for the influx of millions of Africans to the West in search of a safe haven and better life for themselves and their families. As a result, millions of Africans have found a safe haven in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.

In light of the above, the immigration issue is also an African problem and affects the lives of million of Africans living in the West. The immigration issue cannot only be left to Mexicans or Latinos alone; it is also an African problem. That is why Africans joined hands with other immigrants in the demonstrations that flooded the streets in different parts of the United States recently demanding for the relaxation of the immigration policy that would make them legal citizens of this country.

     What does this mean to millions of African illegal immigrants? Africans are also looking for a solution to the problem. There is a plethora of African immigration cases not solved due to inadequate documents. These immigrants live and work in the country without residence and work permit. However, they are peaceful workers who respect the laws of the country. They are against any kind of deportation whatsoever because of fear of persecutions awaiting them in their homeland. Still a lot more have been living in the country for quite some time and do not want to go back home because they have established a home here for themselves and their children.

     No doubt, the United States needs immigration for its economy and these immigrants need to be granted the opportunities to live and work in the country as legal citizens of the United States. The immigration problem can be solved when illegal immigrants become legal by law. Like their brothers and sisters from other countries of the world, illegal immigrants from African want to have a legal status. After all, America is a nation of immigrants and immigration gives the US a great cultural diversity.

     What is important is the fact that all these illegal immigrants are peaceful and law abiding people whom if identified may be thrown into jail and deported. In this respect, the immigration issue becomes critical for many Africans too. Like Mexicans and Latinos, Africans are also looking forward to most humane laws that will decide the fate of millions of immigrants by way of integrating them into the main stream of the society. This involves the granting of amnesty and the implementation of an honest and intelligent immigration policy. The immigration issue is a human rights issue. In this regard, the U.N. Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrants and their Families could be used as the basis for treating the immigration problem. It takes into consideration the protection of the basic human rights of immigrants documented or undocumented

     To date, in the United States alone, there are an estimated twelve million illegal immigrants who live and work in the country and that number is growing every day. These immigrants want a better life for themselves and their families. In a drive to resolve the immigration problem, the United States is planning to secure its borders while at the same time trying to find a solution to the twelve million undocumented illegal immigrants inside the country.

     True, the United States of America is a nation of immigrants. Businesses need the cheap labor from these immigrants to fill in the labor shortage needed by the economy. Over the years America has been a safe haven for millions of Africans who fled political persecutions and tribal wars. The United States of America will continue to become a land of opportunity and safe haven for millions of immigrants to realize their great American dream.