IOM Blog Post: Border Crossing Risks

Recent influxes of migrants at the US-Mexico Border have increased the risk for migrants attempting to cross the border. The monthly migrant encounters have reached near record highs, with 206,239 counted in the month of November 2022 according to the Pew Research Center. The Biden administration and Supreme Court have decided to continue Title 42, rather than ending as was expected for December 2022. The policy allows the expulsion of asylum seekers without a hearing. President Biden has simultaneously announced an expansion to a program accepting 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Later in January 2023, the U.S. met with Mexico and Canada to reach out for assistance from Canada with the border crisis. The proposed agreement would help migrants through borders legally to reduce humanitarian crises.

The sharp rise of migrants is not unique to the US-Mexico border. Projected global resettlement needs for 2023 released by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) places a special emphasis on Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Rohingya, and various countries in the Central Mediterranean due to continuing or increased humanitarian crises and conflicts. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has also placed migrants in need of resettlement, with around 8 million people displaced in 2022, estimated by the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration at UCL. According to the Reuters Institute, several find refuge in Eastern Europe, and most migrate to Poland. Immigration to Poland has been increasing, with migrants from several different countries passing through Belarus.

However, unsafe routes taken by migrants represent an additional dimension to this issue. Migrant deaths in Eastern Poland may be on the rise as a result of a recent policy initiated by Belarus to encourage migration into Europe. According to a spokesperson of an NGO responsible for those facing challenges on the border, over 200 missing persons alerts have been filed in total, with many presumed to be dead. Policies adopted by the Greek and Cypriot governments to halt migration through the Eastern Mediterranean route have likely led to a surge in migration through other more dangerous routes. On other routes, migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy (Central), Malta (Central), Gibraltar (Western), or Spain (Western). This trend led to 2021 having the highest number of migrant fatalities since the height of the so-called ‘Migrant Crisis.’

Monitoring migration passageways and promoting their safety requires a multi-faceted approach that involves government policies, local actors, and outreach. Many governments exploited the rise in migration to promote nationalist rhetoric, while others encourage it to make a profit. Promoting safer migration routes is critical as it is linked to reduced human trafficking. As you brainstorm ideas and find solutions during committee sessions, make sure that your proposal is reasonable and comprehensive.

The questions you might continue to consider are: How can we promote safer passageways across borders for migrants? How can the U.S. promote humanitarian, legal entry through the southern border during this major increase in immigration? How does immigration policy like Title 42 affect migrants and their physical and legal safety? How can policies help risks of safety coming from both border control agents and potentially dangerous smugglers?