Migration Matters #36
OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2023, Afghan Refugees in Pakistan, IDPs Amid Israel-Palestine Conflict, Golden Passports, India's Remittance Story, New York Migrant Crisis, Darién Gap & More!
Dear Reader,
We bring you the most exciting and insightful trends from the world of migration - the stories that matter, the events that made headlines and exciting resources you can check out. Don’t forget to check out our Good Finds section for some exciting reccos!
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Must Read
OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2023 is Out!
The annual publication examines immigration trends, labour market impacts, and policies in its member countries. The report also provides insights about trends in displacement and refugee flows, as inflows of refugees from Ukraine in the OECD were found to have reached record levels due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Following are some of the key insights highlighted in the report:
Permanent-type migration to OECD countries surged by 26% in 2022 compared to 2021, with early figures for 2023 indicating further growth.
The top origin countries for asylum applicants in the OECD during 2022 included Venezuela (221,000), Cuba (180,000), Afghanistan (170,000), and Nicaragua (165,000).
In over half of OECD nations, migrant employment rates reached their highest levels in more than two decades.
Insights for India from OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2023
In 2021 and 2022, India emerged as the top country of origin, with 0.41 million new migrants to OECD countries, surpassing China. This indicates a significant flow of Indian nationals to these economically developed nations. Further, despite a 15% decrease compared to 2019, India has consistently been the primary source of new citizens in OECD countries since 2019. This shows a sustained pattern of migration from India. In 2021, around 0.13 million Indian citizens acquired the nationality of an OECD country, with a majority of these acquisitions happening in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
IDPs Continue to Increase Amid the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Since the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict on October 7th, Gaza has witnessed a significant humanitarian crisis, resulting in approximately 1.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) as of October 30th. Of these, roughly 671,000 have sought shelter in 150 UNRWA facilities, significantly surpassing the intended capacity, with over three times the average number of IDPs per shelter. Simultaneously, the West Bank has seen nearly 1,000 Palestinians forced from their homes since October 7th. Egypt and other countries of the Middle East have declined to accept Palestinian refugees, with Egypt citing concerns about unsustainable refugee flows. However, on November 1st, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened for limited evacuation of injured Palestinians and foreign passport holders.
Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan
Pakistan has failed to renew Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for over a million Afghan refugees since their expiration on June 30 2023, leaving them at risk of deportation. This has been followed by a crackdown in September, leading to the arrest of over 250 and the return of about 100 undocumented Afghans. Currently, the country is establishing deportation centres for unauthorized migrants, including approximately 1.7 million Afghans, with a deadline of November 1st for them to leave or face arrest. The government asserts that these measures are not directed at Afghans specifically but at all undocumented migrants. Local residents and Afghan nationals have protested the crackdown, emphasizing the complex challenges surrounding this situation.
India
In the list of global applicants for golden passports, Indians account for 9.4% of the total applicants. A golden passport offers a wide variety of benefits like visa-free travel to several countries easing mobility and allowing quick access to foreign land, reduction in tax liabilities, ease of doing business, legal apparatuses mandating transparency in business and investments, etc. The passport-issuing countries could also be pathways for access to other regions. For instance, a Portuguese passport offers the opportunity to access the EU. Similarly, a Grenadian passport allows visa-free access to the US. At the moment, India only provides visa-free access to 60 locations which hampers opportunities for doing business with ease and speed.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has written to the Biden Administration to grant relaxation in rules pertaining to employment authorization cards. Due to the annual country-wise cap of 7% on approvals, nearly 1.1 million Indian-origin non-immigrant visa holders are awaiting their chance to file for the I-485 green card applications.
After a complete suspension of visa services between India and Canada, India resumes its visa services for Canada select categories. With effect from October 26, Entry visa, Business visa, Medical Visa, and Conference Visa will be issued by India.
India and the European Union organized a High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility to work on the issue of illegal migrants, irregular migration, and human trafficking. The two sides decided to enhance cooperation within the existing framework guided by the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility signed in 2016. This framework has supported the two sides from 2017-22 to ensure greater and safer mobility. This becomes salient in light of India’s growing human capital and Europe’s declining demographic dividend in a fast-paced human-intensive labour market.
Upcoming Report to Watch Out For: The Federation of Indian Emigration Management Councils and Associations’ (FIMCA) latest report, ‘From India to the World: The Remittance Revolution,’ delves into the linkages between migration, recruitment and remittances in India, offering insights into the invaluable role of the recruitment industry in facilitating safe, legal, and sustainable emigration and boosting remittances in India. The report will be available on the FIMCA website and Linkedin soon!
Global
WHO’s Inaugural Global Research Agenda on Health, Migration, and Displacement: The agenda, released on 30th October, comes in response to the need to address significant knowledge gaps and enhance the evidence base on health, migration, and displacement. It aims to improve the health and well-being of migrants, refugees, and displaced populations and support global health and sustainable development goals. The agenda identifies five key research themes as global priorities to be addressed over the next five years and incorporates an Implementation Guide and Toolkit, allowing other stakeholders to customize and extend the research agenda at regional, national, and local levels.
Developments in the ‘New York Migrant Crisis’: NYC has been grappling with a Migrant Crisis since April last year. In new developments in addressing the issue, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing for changes to the state's ‘right-to-shelter’ laws. He has limited the time migrants can stay in city-run facilities, reducing the 60-day period to 30 days for adult asylum seekers. Housing advocates argue that curtailing the right to shelter for migrants may lead to increased homelessness. While discussions on this are underway in court, the city is also establishing a ‘reticketing centre’ in Manhattan. This office will provide asylum-seekers with free, one-way tickets to anywhere in the world, aiming to ease pressure on the city's overflowing shelters. This offer for travel is voluntary. Here are two brief accounts of the situation for further reading.
New EU Deal on Irregular Migration: EU member states have reached an agreement to reform rules governing responses to irregular migration, aiming to address the increased arrivals seen in 2023. Under the agreement, countries facing a migration crisis can request "solidarity contributions" from other EU states. This framework allows for relocation, assuming responsibility for asylum claims, and providing financial or other assistance. States like Hungary and Poland, however, refuse shared responsibility. The deal has been seen as a significant step toward a broader migration pact to be finalized before the European Parliament elections in June 2024, aiming to alleviate the migration burden on certain EU countries.
Chinese Migrants Crossing the Darién Gap: The United States is witnessing a surge in Chinese immigrants taking a perilous route through Panama's Darién Gap jungle, with the number of Chinese migrants using this route steadily increasing each month. Social media posts and videos offering step-by-step guidance have popularized this route, which starts with Chinese migrants flying to Ecuador without a visa and then heading north to the US-Mexico border. The increase in migration is attributed to an increasingly repressive political climate and economic challenges in China, with the UN projecting a substantial rise in emigration from China this year.
Good Finds
The Washington Post's podcast 'Post Reports' features a new episode titled 'Mexico's Migration Challenge.' In this episode, the focus is on migration to Mexico from various Latin American countries, with particular attention given to the city of San Luis Potosí. The ongoing issue of migration has created tensions between the US and Mexico, with Mexico receiving migrants from across Latin America who seek to enter the US illegally. The US has been pressuring Mexico to manage and contain these migrants within its borders to prevent their unauthorized entry into the US.
Lo Capitano is a drama film showcasing the journey of two Senegalese men to Europe. As Italy's submission for the Oscars, the film has already garnered several accolades. It offers insights into the harrowing journey of two Senegalese illegal migrants as they set out to build a home in the expanse of Europe. The two men, initially unaware of the perils that await them, set out with hopes and dreams of achieving success, much like countless other migrants.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful weekend read, check out “Exit West” by Mohsin Hamid. Set in an unnamed city teetering on the brink of conflict, the story explores migration through magical doors, capturing the global refugee crisis, with a poignant prose. As Hamid beautifully puts it, 'When we migrate, we murder from our lives those we leave behind.'
Professor Hein de Haas’ forthcoming book titled, ‘How Migration Really Works: A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics’ is slated for publication on 9th November, 2023. This highly anticipated publication in the field of Migration Studies draws on over three decades of research to debunk myths about migration’s impact on global trends, climate change, its beneficiaries, and the consequences of border restrictions, among other issues. The book will be available in multiple languages besides English and can be pre-ordered here.
📢 We have some great news! IMN's implementation arm, Chalo Network has a revamped website, tailored to support underserved migrants, Chalo agents, and employers working with migrant staff! You can check out Chalo 2.0. offerings here!
Also, Chalo Network is selected for Seedstars FIWAM Growth Program as one of the fintech businesses from Asia committed to enhancing financial inclusion for those impacted by migration!
Thank you, we will see you again next month!
Best Wishes,
The IMN Team
Research and Drafting: Mihika Samant and Muskaan Goenka
Editorial Support: Pooja Bhatia
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