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U.S. Immigration Expert Predicts Tougher 2026 for Travelers as Delays, Denials and Enforcement Set to Rise

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A U.S.-based immigration attorney has cautioned immigrants, employers and families around the world—particularly those with ties to the United States—to prepare for a far more demanding immigration environment in 2026, marked by longer delays, stricter adjudication and intensified enforcement.

Akua Poku, principal attorney at AK Poku Law, says trends emerging in 2025 suggest that U.S. immigration agencies are moving toward a system that prioritises rigorous screening over speed, leaving little room for error in applications.

Her assessment has drawn attention among African migrants and diaspora communities, many of whom rely on U.S. immigration pathways for education, employment, family reunification and asylum.

Slower Processing Across the Board

According to Poku, applicants should expect significant delays across the U.S. immigration system in 2026. She anticipates more re-reviews of files, additional interviews, and prolonged adjudication timelines—even for categories that historically moved quickly.

“These delays are not isolated,” she explained, noting that both U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and immigration courts are likely to be affected.

Courts Facing Growing Backlogs

Poku warned that immigration courts could become increasingly congested as policy shifts channel more denied cases into removal proceedings. Combined with judicial changes and administrative reforms, this is expected to leave many migrants waiting longer for hearings and final rulings.

For individuals without lawful status, or those with pending cases, the impact could be especially severe.

Higher Bar for Evidence

One of the most consequential changes, Poku predicts, will be a rise in Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs). USCIS, she says, is likely to demand more comprehensive documentation at the initial filing stage.

Applications that lack clarity, contain inconsistencies or fall short of technical requirements may be denied more quickly than in previous years, with fewer chances for correction.

Less Flexibility, Faster Denials

Poku also foresees a narrower use of discretion by immigration officers and judges. Minor errors that once resulted in warnings or opportunities to amend filings may now lead directly to denials.

This shift, she noted, underscores the growing importance of precision and professional legal guidance, particularly for complex cases involving employment visas, family sponsorship and humanitarian relief.

ICE Expected to Step Up Enforcement

Beyond administrative changes, Poku says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is likely to adopt a more assertive enforcement stance in 2026. This includes renewed attention to old deportation orders, expired statuses and gaps in immigration histories.

For migrants who have lived in the U.S. for years with unresolved issues, she warned, enforcement risks may increase substantially.

Asylum Cases Under Early Review

Another area of concern is asylum. Poku predicts more early-stage dismissals, where judges assess applications upfront and may deny them without full hearings if eligibility thresholds are not met.

For asylum seekers from conflict-affected regions, including parts of Africa, this development could significantly reduce opportunities to present full claims unless filings are thorough from the outset.

A Critical Year for Migrants

While no single policy announcement has yet defined the 2026 landscape, Poku says the direction is clear: the system is becoming stricter, less forgiving and more enforcement-driven.

Her advice is blunt: 2026 will reward those who are organised, proactive and meticulous—and penalise those who delay or submit weak applications.

Taste GH

Kuli Kuli: The Crunchy Peanut Snack That Travels Across Ghana’s Streets With Ease

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There’s a particular sound that follows Kuli Kuli down Ghana’s streets—the sharp, satisfying crunch that announces its presence long before the first bite.

Made from roasted groundnuts pressed into golden sticks or small clusters, this humble snack has earned a permanent place in everyday eating across the country.

Kuli Kuli carries the deep, nutty aroma of roasted peanuts, often enriched with a subtle kick of spice depending on who prepares it. Its texture is firm and crisp, breaking cleanly between the teeth and leaving behind a rich, earthy flavour that lingers. While simple in ingredients, it delivers a depth that makes it hard to eat just one piece.

Across Ghana, Kuli Kuli is more than a snack—it’s part of the rhythm of daily life. It shows up in woven baskets at lorry stations, in transparent bowls on street corners, and in the hands of schoolchildren heading home.

Traders often pair it with roasted groundnuts or sell it alongside other street favourites, making it an easy grab for commuters, workers, and travellers.

For many, it is a quiet companion during long journeys or busy afternoons. It is filling enough to take the edge off hunger, yet light enough to eat on the move. Visitors to Ghana often discover it unexpectedly, handed over in paper wraps or sold from roadside stalls where it sits alongside familiar street foods.

Beyond its taste and convenience, Kuli Kuli also carries a health appeal rooted in its primary ingredient—groundnuts. Rich in protein and healthy fats, it has long been considered a wholesome snack in many households, especially in communities where peanuts are a dietary staple.

Simple, durable, and deeply familiar, Kuli Kuli remains one of those foods that tells a story of resourcefulness and everyday Ghanaian life—one crunchy bite at a time.

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Sights and Sounds

Echoes of the Atlantic: A Walk Through the Living History of Jamestown

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The salt-heavy breeze of the Gulf of Guinea tangles with the scent of woodsmoke and freshly grilled tilapia as you step into the labyrinthine alleys of Jamestown.

Above, the scarlet and white stripes of the iconic 1930s lighthouse pierce a hazy blue sky, standing as a silent sentry over a neighborhood that refused to be forgotten. To walk these streets is to feel the heartbeat of Accra—raw, rhythmic, and fiercely soulful.

Here, the past doesn’t sit behind glass; it lives in the peeling paint of colonial storefronts and the vibrant mural-lined walls that serve as the community’s open-air canvas.

The geography of Jamestown is a visual timeline of Ghana’s evolution. At the edge of the Atlantic, the Ga Mashie community thrives around the bustling fishing harbor.

From the vantage point of the old harbor walls, you can watch hundreds of hand-painted wooden pirogues, draped in colorful flags, bobbing on the surf as fishermen haul in the morning’s catch. Just a stone’s throw away, the somber, whitewashed walls of Ussher Fort and James Fort provide a stark architectural contrast.

These structures, remnants of Dutch and British colonial presence, offer a heavy but necessary reflection on the transatlantic slave trade, their dungeons echoing with centuries of history that shaped the modern world.

A walking tour here is an exercise in sensory immersion. One moment, you are navigating the narrow “Brazil House” lane, learning about the Tabom people—formerly enslaved Afro-Brazilians who returned to their ancestral home—and the next, you are surrounded by the chaotic energy of a street-side boxing gym.

Jamestown is the undisputed pugilist capital of West Africa; the rhythmic thud of gloves against heavy bags is as much a part of the local soundtrack as the highlife music drifting from corner bars.

Visitors shouldn’t miss the chance to climb the lighthouse for a panoramic view that captures the duality of the city: the old colonial footprint dissolving into the rising glass skyscrapers of the modern business district.

Jamestown demands that you slow down and engage. It is a place where a simple “Agooo” (the local way of asking for passage or attention) opens doors to hidden courtyard cafes and artisan workshops.

By the time the sun begins to dip, painting the harbor in hues of molten gold and violet, you realize that Jamestown isn’t just a destination on a map; it is a masterclass in resilience and the enduring power of community.

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Taste GH

Golden, Airy, Irresistible: The Simple Magic of Bofrot

No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.

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There’s a moment just before dawn in Accra when the air changes—still thick with harmattan dust but suddenly split by the sweet, yeasty whisper of bofrot hitting hot oil. That scent is an alarm clock no one resists.

For the uninitiated: bofrot is Ghana’s golden-fried dough ball, airy as a cloud, crisp on the outside, and tender within. No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.

Vendors pile them high in woven baskets near lorry parks, school gates, and market corners. A small bag costs pocket change, yet it fuels everyone from office workers to toddlers tugging at their mothers’ skirts.

Unlike heavier doughnuts, bofrot is surprisingly light—no greasy linger. It’s vegan by tradition, making it an accidental ally for plant-based travelers.

You’ll see Ghanaians tearing pieces to dip into koko (spiced millet porridge) at breakfast or eating them plain as a 4 p.m. pick-me-up. At weddings and outdoorings (naming ceremonies), bofrot arrives in pyramids, a quiet symbol of hospitality and joy.

@akosuahstastyrecipe NO FAIL GHANAIAN BOFROT🇬🇭 ✅INGREDIENTS 3 cups hard flour 1 cup sugar 1 pack instant yeast 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1 and half cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Oil for frying ✅NOTE Please make sure the water you will use for the yeast is lukewarm not hot #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #fyp #foodblogger #viral_video #accra #foodies #homemade #bofrot #puff #puffpuff #doughnut @Flottycastiron_and_kitchen ♬ Big Baller – Flavour

Visitors often ask, “Is it just puff puff?” Close, but not quite. Bofrot has a tighter crumb, a deeper caramel blush, and a distinct Ghanaian soul.

Try one from a Mamprobi street cart, steam still rising. You’ll understand why no recipe book can replicate the rhythm of the woman who’s flipped a million of them—her wrist flicking dough into oil like she’s telling time. That’s the real secret.

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