E.g., 06/07/2026
E.g., 06/07/2026
Migration Information Source - Articles by 'Refugee & Asylum Policy' Term

Articles - Refugee & Asylum Policy

The backs of two people on a motorbike; above them a sign notes the Guatemala border

Migration patterns from and through Central America are changing in fundamental ways amid rising immigration enforcement and a reduction in global humanitarian aid. These twin developments are putting new pressures on governments in the region and reshaping migrant experiences, as this article explores.

A crowd in Benin City, Nigeria. (Photo: IOM/Agara Barinedum)

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, sits at the crossroads of the continent’s migration landscape. As both a regional immigration hub and an origin for significant emigration, the country contends with a wide range of migration issues that have evolved over time. This country profile situates Nigeria's migration trends and policies.

A farmer in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Significant shares of Syrians and Turks who have sought asylum in the European Union are of Kurdish background. How will migration be affected by the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and Turkey’s 2025 ceasefire with PKK militants? This article examines the history and context of migration dynamics involving the Kurds, and prospects for change.

People walk along an embankment in Bangladesh

While the term "climate refugee” is often used colloquially, people displaced by environmental factors are not actually eligible for refugee status on that basis. However, policymakers and advocates have begun to experiment with approaches to protection by other means. This article reviews the initiatives, including a novel visa in Australia and the ways that longstanding legal frameworks have been used to encompass people deeply affected by climate change.

Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony.

This essential resource offers top statistics about immigration, immigrants, and the immigration system in the United States, drawing on authoritative sources and the latest data available. The article offers insights on the size and characteristics of the immigrant population, the scope of temporary and permanent immigration via all pathways, enforcement actions, and much more.

A woman feeds chickens in Ethiopia's Gambella region.

Ethiopia's pioneering new approach to refugees, known as Makatet, focuses on inclusion and self-sufficiency by offering more refugees work permits, business licenses, and national identification cards. The approach could increase individuals' integration and reduce government costs. But questions remain about funding, implementation, and protection gaps for certain populations, as this article details.

Girls in traditional Ukrainian attire.

The Ukrainian immigrant population in the United States grew significantly in the immediate aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Compared to the overall immigrant population, Ukrainians are more likely to be U.S. citizens and have higher levels of education. This article provides wide-ranging statistics on the size, U.S. settlement, and socioeconomic characteristics of this group. 

President Donald Trump addresses the nation.

U.S. immigration policy, practice, and enforcement changed dramatically over the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, touching most corners of the immigration system. The government has cracked down on unauthorized immigration in the U.S. interior and at the border, expanded scrutiny of immigrants of all legal statuses, and erected barriers for would-be arrivals. This article provides a sweeping overview of the changes that have taken place and assesses their impacts.

A refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was resettled in the United States

The U.S. approach towards refugees and asylum seekers has fluctuated considerably in recent years. The Trump administration all but ended refugee resettlement and sharply curtailed asylum processing following a period under the Biden administration of recent refugee highs, increased asylum grants, and the widespread use of temporary humanitarian protections. This article showcases the changing trends. 

Families from Venezuela in Trinidad and Tobago.

Many Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago have found that their situation is more complex than expected as the Caribbean country has largely adopted an enforcement-first approach. Many Venezuelan migrants face stigma and precarity—issues complicated amid escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States, as this article details. 

A woman and child at the Moldova-Ukraine border

One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has hosted more displaced Ukrainians per capita than any other nation. More than one-quarter of the nearly 7 million Ukrainians who fled since Russia’s 2022 invasion have passed through Moldova. This article provides an overview of the little country shouldering a disproportionate burden even as it is pulled between Russia and the European Union.

The Little Havana neighborhood of Miami.

The United States is by far the top destination for international migrants from the Caribbean. Roughly one in ten U.S. immigrants was born in the Caribbean, coming chiefly from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or Haiti. Compared to other foreign-born groups, these individuals are more likely to be naturalized U.S. citizens and to have arrived since 2010, as this article details.

Young women outdoors.

Approximately 2.5 million sub-Saharan African immigrants lived in the United States in 2024—more than triple the number in 2000—with most coming from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, or South Africa. This article offers a range of information about this diverse group, which has higher educational attainment and English proficiency than the overall immigrant population, and tends to have higher income. 

Argentina's flag in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

Argentina's founders had a clear desire to encourage immigration, especially from Europe, and the country was for a period among the world’s top immigration destinations. Trends and policies shifted over time, and since the early 1900s overall immigration has declined. Most immigrants now come from neighboring South American countries. This country profile examines Argentina’s migration past and present, including a turn to more restrictive policymaking.

Migrantes venezolanos esperan procesamiento en Brasil.

Un nivel histórico de migración está transformando las sociedades y la política en América Latina y el Caribe, dando paso a una etapa definida por la volatilidad. Este artículo analiza estas dinámicas en el Caribe y Centroamérica y Sudamérica, y analiza la probabilidad de que la región se acerque a un punto de inflexión en la gestión de la migración.

Venezuelan migrants wait for processing in Brazil.

Amid unprecedented migration that began in 2010, Latin America and the Caribbean have entered a new era best defined by volatility. The success of initial policy responses to the displacement of millions of Venezuelans and other migration patterns has dimmed, given incomplete integration outcomes and other pressures. This article details these dynamics across the Caribbean and Central and South America.

A woman in Zimbabwe pushes a wheelbarrow.

When agricultural communities are displaced by conflict or the impacts of climate change, women often assume new roles as primary providers while men lose their traditional breadwinner status. This shift can create both opportunities and risks. This article details the dynamics, focusing on experiences in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

A woman at an airport looks at flight information

The number of international migrants globally has roughly doubled since 1990. Yet because the world's overall population has grown, the share of all people living outside their country of origin is only slightly higher than it was then. This useful, data-rich article puts the global migrant population in context, offering current and historical statistics about the cross-border movements of workers, students, refugees and asylum seekers, and others.

Women at a site for displaced people in Niger.

Migration governance in Africa's Sahel region has been been pulled in different directions, torn between security-focused border restrictions and economic visions for free movement. New complexity was added after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the regional ECOWAS bloc. This articles provides insight on the migration and policy trends in a dynamic region.

People displaced from Sudan at the border with South Sudan

Sudan’s civil war has created the world's largest and fastest-growing displacement crisis, one that has been largely overshadowed by conflicts and political tensions elsewhere around the globe. As major international donor countries pull back humanitarian aid funding, the crisis is only expected to worsen. This article examines the dramatic scale of displacement and its place in Sudan's history.

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