Top 10 Migration Issues of 2014
Rachel Unkovic/IRC
From the fluid business model of the smuggling industry and sharpened political rhetoric to changes in citizenship laws and climate-induced migration, MPI experts analyze pressing issues in the Migration Information Source’s annual edition of the Top 10 Migration Trends of 2015.
From rising levels of humanitarian migration around the globe to President Obama’s action ordering deportation relief for millions of unauthorized immigrants in the United States and migration controls to halt the spread of Ebola from West Africa, 2014 was punctuated by a range of migration crises, important policy changes, and developments. In this edition of the Migration Information Source’s annual Top 10 migration issues of the year, MPI experts analyze these and other trends that occurred throughout 2014.
World Confronts Largest Humanitarian Crisis since WWII
In 2014, global displacement due to conflict or persecution hit 51.2 million, the highest since World War II.
President Obama Breaks Immigration Impasse with Sweeping Executive Action
President Barack Obama's 2014 executive actions sought to shield up to 5.2 million unauthorized immigrants, but faced legal challenges and…
Border Controls under Challenge: A New Chapter Opens
In 2014, migrants and smugglers turned rescue and protection policies into entry strategies as Mediterranean deaths surpassed 3,000, up from 700 in…
Building Borders around Ebola
Ebola-related border closures and travel bans reshaped mobility from West Africa, but also stranded refugees and may have complicated some efforts to…
New Era in Immigration Enforcement at the U.S. Southwest Border
Central American family and minor migration in 2014 reshaped U.S. Southwest border enforcement, forcing officials to rethink strategies built for…
Governments Fear Return and Intentions of Radicalized Citizens Fighting Abroad
Governments in 2014 struggled to weigh foreign-fighter security fears against civil liberties, amid ISIS recruitment and lone-wolf attacks.
Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Asia
Gulf and Southeast Asian labor systems left millions of migrant workers vulnerable to debt, abuse, and only tentative reforms in 2014.
Changing Landscape Prompts Mexico's Emergence as a Migration Manager
Mexico’s shift from major migrant sender to regional migration manager has raised questions about the balance between enforcement and protection.
The Points System Is Dead, Long Live the Points System
A new generation of immigration points systems worldwide are hybrids relying on employer demand as well as supply-driven selection.
Migration with Chinese Characteristics: Hukou Reform and Elite Emigration
China’s leaders paired ambitious hukou reforms with concern over elite emigration, reshaping internal and international migration.
