Top 10 Migration Issues of 2010
Amanda Nero/IOM
The Migration Information Source recounts the major trends of the year in this annual review.
In major migration developments in 2010, the year began with major internal population displacement resulting from a devastating earthquake in Haiti and ended with Greece's call to Frontex for help on the Greek-Turkish border. During the months in between, Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration and elections in Europe were among the significant developments of the year on migration. These topics, plus the latest on how the Great Recession affected migrants around the world, are all covered in the Top 10 Migration Issues of 2010.
Evidence from the Great Recession Is In: Migration Flows Dropped, Unemployment Among Certain Immigrants Rose
Mexico's emigration rate fell from 10.1 to 4.9 per 1,000 between 2007 and 2010, amid the recession and increased unemployment.
The Arizona Effect: When National Governments Fail, Others React
Arizona's SB 1070, signed in April 2010 amid federal inaction on immigration reform, inspired 23 states to pursue their own immigration…
Painful Cuts to Integration Budgets - Even in Places Committed to Immigrant Integration
Recession-era austerity cut immigrant integration budgets across Europe and U.S. states in 2010.
Europe, Wary of Immigration and Immigrants, Reaches an Inflection Point
In 2010, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany all signaled a shift away from openness, with anti-immigrant parties gaining ground.
United States Still Stalled on Immigration Reform, Republican Victories in Midterm Elections Change Landscape
With comprehensive reform stalled in 2010, the U.S. immigration debate shifted to birthright citizenship challenges and the DREAM Act.
Remittances Rebound After Recession
Global remittances were projected to rebound to $325 billion in 2010, after a drop in 2009.
When All Else Fails, Leave: Emigration from Europe's New Destinations on the Rise
Ireland recorded the European Union's highest net emigration rate in 2009, with 34,500 net departures in the year ending April 2010.
Not Just the Highly Skilled - Only the Best and Brightest, Please
Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Australia all moved to raise the bar on skilled migration, prioritizing quality over quantity even as labor demand…
Crackdown on Illegal Migration Makes Greece Main Entry Point to Europe
By October 2010, Greece accounted for 90 percent of illegal EU border crossings, prompting the first ever deployment of specialized Frontex border…
Natural Disasters in Haiti and Pakistan Highlight Diaspora Response
Two 2010 disasters revealed a diaspora contrast: Haiti formally welcomed its diaspora into rebuilding, while Pakistan's diaspora was still…
