Thinking Regionally to Compete Globally: Leveraging Migration & Human Capital in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America
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Highlights
Shifting demographics and slowing emigration from Mexico and Central America demand a new U.S. regional strategy, this final report of the Regional Migration Study Group makes clear.
- Sustained economic growth, demographic transitions, and institutional reforms in Mexico and Central America are reshaping longstanding migration patterns with the United States.
- Approximately 73 percent of the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are nationals of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras.
- This final report of the Regional Migration Study Group calls for an independent federal agency to advise on employment-based immigration levels, expanded portability for certain temporary work visa holders, and policies promoting circular, two-way migration.
- The Study Group—co-chaired by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and former Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein—frames competitiveness and human-capital investment as inseparable from migration management.
This final report by the Regional Migration Study Group outlines the powerful demographic, economic, and social forces reshaping Mexico and much of Central America and changing longstanding migration dynamics with the United States. The Study Group, co-chaired by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and former Guatemalan Vice President and Foreign Minister Eduardo Stein, offers a forward-looking, pragmatic agenda for the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—focusing on new collaborative approaches on migration and human-capital development to strengthen regional competitiveness.
The report finds that among the factors reshaping historical patterns of migration are sustained economic growth in Mexico, demographic transitions in Mexico and parts of Central America, and institutional reforms throughout the region. Of the estimated 11 million unauthorized individuals in the United States, the report notes that approximately 73 percent are nationals of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and suggests an expansive legalization program be promoted during negotiations over U.S. immigration reform. Other key policy recommendations include: the creation of an independent federal agency tasked with conducting labor market research and advising the government on employment-based immigration levels; an expansion of the portability provision to include holders of certain temporary work visas; and the promotion of circularity and two-way exchange across regional migration systems.
The report was ranked in the 2013 Global Go To Think Tank Index as the 11th Best Report Produced by a Think Tank for 2012-2013, and the MPI-Wilson Center's Mexico Institute collaboration on the Regional Migration Study Group was rated the world's 18th Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks. Learn more here.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Understanding Regional Migration
B. Migration Policy Has Not Kept Pace with Regional Economic Integration
II. Changing Assumptions
A. Demographic Outlook
B. Changing Flows
C. Economic Growth
III. Institutional Reforms and the Rule of Law
A. Creating Rule-of-Law Frameworks for Migration Management Throughout the Region
B. Reducing Corruption by Building Capacity and Confidence in Law Enforcement Institutions
C. Promoting a Culture of Economic Growth and Productivity by Encouraging Formal Economic Activity
IV. Immigration Policies: Making the U.S. Immigration System More Responsive to Labor Market and Economic Needs
A. Today's Reality
B. Introducing Flexibility Into the Economic Immigration Stream
C. Remaking Visa Policies to Respond to Labor Market Realities and Experiences
D. Legalization
V. New Approaches to Migration Reform in Mexico and Central America: An Evolving Role for Mexico
Modernizing Mexico's Migration System
VI. Regional Migration and Human Capital: A Longer-Term Regional Vision for Human-Capital Development
A. Barriers and Opportunities to Building and Activating Human Capital
B. Recognizing the Importance of Circularity
C. Building Qualifications that Are Recognized and Portable Across the Region
VII. Conclusions and Recommendations
Related Links
About the Regional Migration Study Group
This forward-looking initiative focused on shaping collaborative migration and human-capital strategies in North and Central America.
About the U.S. Immigration Policy Program
The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides analysis of U.S. immigration pathways, the impacts of enforcement and other policies, and the characteristics of immigrant populations.
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