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.
All Content
Showing 11–20 of 793 results
Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy
Immigrants made up 29 percent of Napa County’s workforce as of 2019–23, with those working in the wine and hospitality industry generating an estimated $1.5 billion in county GDP.
The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having
Immigration is central to America’s economic future, yet debate fixates on border crises and policy failures instead of how a modern legal immigration system could power U.S. competitiveness.
Why Is Immigration Policy So Hard to Get Right?
Can immigration policy ever balance economic, humanitarian, and social goals in a way that publics find fair and credible?
The Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies Encounter Resistance in the Courts
Federal courts have become a key check on the Trump administration’s second-term immigration agenda, frequently halting or narrowing marquee policies.
U.S. Third-Country Deportation Agreements Are More About Fear than Numbers
The Trump administration's third-country deportation agreements with 27 governments represent a small share of U.S. removals. But fear may be their main function.
Escalation of ICE Operations Emboldens State and Local Lawmakers to Constrain Its Operations
As ICE enforcement intensified in 2026, a record number of states enacted laws limiting or expanding their cooperation, creating a growing patchwork.
Graduating into Uncertainty: Unauthorized Immigrant Students in U.S. High Schools
About 75,000 unauthorized immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools annually, MPI estimates. Amid immigration policy and enforcement changes, many are graduating into uncertainty.
Tras Maduro, un enfoque mesurado de la migración venezolana es más esencial que nunca
Ante un posible escenario pos-Maduro para Venezuela, la mayoría de los casi 8 millones de venezolanos que se encuentran en el extranjero esperan con cautela, y es probable que muchos continúen construyendo sus vidas en los países de acogida. En este contexto de incertidumbre, los gobiernos deberían priorizar la regularización y la integración sostenidas por encima de los retornos, avanzar hacia una coordinación regional genuina y reactivar la financiación, sostiene este foco analítico.
Post-Maduro, a Measured Approach to Venezuelan Migration Is More Essential than Ever
Facing a post-Maduro future for Venezuela, most of the nearly 8 million Venezuelans abroad are cautiously waiting, and many are likely to keep building lives in their host country. In this uncertain context, governments should prioritize sustained regularization and integration over returns, genuine regional coordination, and renewed financing, this short read argues.