Latin America and Caribbean Initiative
MPI's Global Program launched the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative (LACI) in 2018 to make sense of a rapidly changing migration landscape and to generate practical ideas for managing diverse mobility while harnessing its benefits. The Initiative combines rigorous, policy-relevant research with direct engagement with decisionmakers to help governments and institutions build functional migration systems that are orderly, rights respecting, and aligned with broader development goals. For more on LACI's work, visit its About page.
Showing 51–60 of 64 results
Lessons from Europe: The U.S. opportunity to rethink the links between development assistance and migration
As the United States embarks on a new strategy to address the root causes of migration and displacement from Central America, there is much that it can learn from Europe's experience in linking up migration and development aid. This commentary examines the experience of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), drawing five key lessons directly applicable to the situation in Central America.
Laying the Foundation for Regional Cooperation: Migration Policy & Institutional Capacity in Mexico and Central America
Since 2015, Mexico and Central America have built fragmented, enforcement-heavy migration systems. This report maps gaps and paths toward improved regional cooperation.
Is Climate Change Driving Migration from Central America?
How do drought, food insecurity, and structural poverty combine to shape migration decisions in Central America — and what does the data tell us?
A Bridge to Firmer Ground: Learning from International Experiences to Support Pathways to Solutions in the Syrian Refugee Context
This report draws on international cases to highlight models that could expand Syrian refugees’ access to protection, social safety nets, and education.
What Comes Next Now that Colombia Has Taken a Historic Step on Migration?
Colombian President Iván Duque’s announcement that the estimated 1.7 million Venezuelans in Colombia will receive a ten-year protection status represents a bold, first-of-its-kind move in Latin America. However, translating this ambitious legalization into action will require both a massive logistical effort and long-term planning to assure social cohesion, as this commentary explores.
Building a New Regional Migration System: Redefining U.S. Cooperation with Mexico and Central America
An enforcement-only approach cannot manage Central American migration. A regional system of legal pathways, protection, and development is needed, as this report sketches.
Venezuelan Migration, Crime, and Misperceptions: A Review of Data from Colombia, Peru, and Chile
Official data from Chile, Peru, and Colombia in 2019 show Venezuelan immigrants committed fewer crimes than their population share, countering claims of migrant-driven crime.
Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Regional Profile
Venezuela's collapse sparked one of the hemisphere's largest displacement crises, leaving millions across Latin America facing legal status gaps and integration barriers.
One Year after the U.S.-Mexico Agreement: Reshaping Mexico’s Migration Policies
The June 2019 U.S.-Mexico migration agreement pushed Mexico toward enforcement-first policies, cutting border crossings while straining humanitarian protections.
An Uneven Welcome: Latin American and Caribbean Responses to Venezuelan and Nicaraguan Migration
Latin American and Caribbean countries opened borders to Venezuelan and Nicaraguan forced migrants but are tightening entry rules, risking a shift to irregular migration.
