Commentary
Showing 11–20 of 190 results
Europe’s Talent Race Starts at the Visa Counter
The European Commission's forthcoming visa strategy must be complemented by national-level policy change given that EU-wide channels represent a small share of total legal migration pathways to Europe. To compete more fully for global talent, European governments will need faster, clearer, and more predictable visa procedures, as this short read explains.
Security Reforms in Ecuador Should Not Be the Last Word
Ecuador's reform of its law on human mobility imposes stricter immigration controls and speeds deportations, linking migration of Venezuelans to spiraling crime rates. Yet this linkage is not supported by the facts, and Ecuador should now move to a phase two in its policymaking: one focused on immigrant integration and development, this short read argues.
Las reformas en materia de seguridad en Ecuador deben representar un primer paso, no el último
La reforma de la ley de movilidad humana de Ecuador impone controles de inmigración más estrictos, vinculando la migración de venezolanos con el aumento vertiginoso de los índices de criminalidad. Sin embargo, esta vinculación no está respaldada por los hechos, y Ecuador debería pasar ahora a una segunda fase en la elaboración de sus políticas: una fase centrada en la integración y el desarrollo de los inmigrantes.
A New Era of Immigration Enforcement Unfolds in the U.S. Interior and at the Border under Trump 2.0
The transformation in U.S. immigration enforcement taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border and in communities across the United States during the second Trump term is tangibly captured in government data for fiscal year (FY) 2025. This short read sifts through the available data to look at encounters, arrests, detentions, and deportations during the fiscal year.
Mending, Not Ending, the Refugee Convention Could Save the Protection System and Restore Public Trust
The humanitarian protection system created through the 1951 Refugee Convention is a remarkable accomplishment. Yet this legal instrument that has saved millions of lives is showing its age. This short read explores ways to update the Convention, without opening Pandora's box, through a possible new Protocol that could address gaps and help better meet today's challenges.
Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?
Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to lows not seen since the 1960s. But can this trend continue amid a sharp policy shift to a deterrence-focused approach, setting aside a carrot-and-stick migration management strategy? This short read looks at the evidence.
The Health Costs to Children of Stepped-Up U.S. Immigration Enforcement
Evidence suggests heightened U.S. immigration enforcement will have major and lasting effects on the physical and mental health of unauthorized immigrants and their children.
Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population
Repealing birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders would have a contrary result from its stated aim of reducing the unauthorized immigrant population. Projections from MPI and Penn State show that ending birthright citizenship would increase the unauthorized population by 2.7 million as of 2045 and by 5.4 million as of 2075.
Schools and Immigrant Students Navigate an Era of Rising Immigration Enforcement
U.S. schools are developing guidance to govern responses in the event of ICE operations. Safe zone initiatives, rooted in legal protections such as the Fourth Amendment, Plyler v. Doe, and 1964 Civil Rights Act, aim to keep schools in compliance with federal and state law, minimize classroom disruption, and ensure consistent attendance, though their success depends on effective implementation, as this short read explains.
The Forgotten Side of Deportation: The Cost of Ignoring Returnees’ Reintegration Challenges
As the U.S. government seeks to ramp up deportations, greater focus should be given to the reception and reintegration of returnees to Mexico and Central America. Despite modest improvements, reception and reintegration programs in these countries have been largely ineffective at improving returnees' long-term conditions—often the same ones that prompted their original migration.
