Christelle Onwu, a powerful advocate for New York City’s diverse communities, has been selected as a 2024 Bridges NY Fellow, a program of JCRC-NY. As the City’s first African Diaspora Advisor, Onwu has a proven track record of bridging divides and promoting understanding. Her leadership and dedication to inclusivity align perfectly with JCRC-NY’s mission of building bridges between communities. Learn more about Onwu’s inspiring work and how the Bridges NY Fellowship will empower her to further her impact.
Historically, the number of migrants from Africa’s 54 countries has been so low that U.S. authorities classified them as “other,” a category that has grown exponentially, driven recently, officials say, by fast-rising numbers from the continent.
According to government data obtained by The Times, the number of Africans apprehended at the southern border jumped to 58,462 in the fiscal year 2023 from 13,406 in 2022. The top African countries in 2023 were Mauritania, at 15,263; Senegal, at 13,526; and Angola and Guinea, which each had more than 4,000.
Nonprofits that work on the border said that the trend has continued, with the absolute number and share of migrants from Africa climbing in recent months as potential destinations in Europe narrow.
