Unauthorized Immigration/Irregular Migration
Explore all research, analysis, commentary, and data on unauthorized immigrants and irregular migrants, terms used in different parts of the world to describe the individuals who lack the right to reside legally in their country of destination, as well as the policies and enforcement practices affecting them.
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Immigration and Integration Policymaking in a Shifting World: A Blue-Sky Conference to Mark MPI’s 25th Year
Join us for this anniversary conference with leading thinkers examining what makes for effective immigration and integration policy in an increasingly turbulent world.
How Post-9/11 Tools Have Been Used for U.S. Immigration Enforcement
Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001 led to a dramatic expansion of the U.S. national security infrastructure, the Trump administration has repointed many tools to detect, detain, and deport noncitizens.
From Counterterrorism to Immigration Enforcement: 25 Years On, Post-9/11 U.S. Changes Have Been Repointed
Post-9/11 national security tools have been repurposed for immigration, expanding the U.S. government’s capacity for surveillance, data sharing, and enforcement.
Migration Diplomacy in an Age of Transactionalism
As international cooperation frays, balanced diplomacy—rather than coercive dealmaking—promises the most effective approach to emerging migration challenges.
Southern Africa’s Migration Integration Is Undermined by Rising Tensions and Changing Trends
Southern Africa’s migration patterns are straining existing governance systems.
Thailand Accepts Its Status as a Migrant Hub, but Workers Face Precarious Conditions
Thailand relies on migrant workers but grants them only temporary, constrained status that has entrenched their social and economic marginalization.
In Its Second Term, Trump Administration Quietly Expands Family Separation
Immigration enforcement during the second Trump term is driving a quieter, more diffuse wave of family separations inside the United States, often through detention, deportation, and pressures to depart the country voluntarily.
Following Years of High Border Arrivals, the U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Hits New Peak
MPI estimates the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a new peak of 15.8 million as of mid-2024, after holding steady at around 11 million throughout the 2010s.
Mexican Immigrants in the United States
Mexicans remain the largest immigrant group in the United States, but their numbers have declined in recent years.
Los inmigrantes mexicanos en Estados Unidos
Los mexicanos siguen siendo el grupo de inmigrantes más numeroso de Estados Unidos, pero su número ha disminuido en los últimos años.
