Giving Compass' Take:

• Chris Horwood explains how the problems presented by mixed migration will grow and must be addressed through reasonable, level-headed debate. 

• How can funders advance productive migration conversations? What practical solutions are already being implemented? 

• Learn how to effectively communicate immigration's costs and benefits. 

Mixed migration is a growing phenomenon, one that gained enormous attention in 2015 with the arrivals of vast numbers of refugees and migrants in Europe. It refers to the cross-border movements of people, including refugees fleeing persecution and conflict, victims of trafficking and those seeking better lives and opportunities. They travel along similar routes, using similar means – normally via irregular pathways and assisted by smugglers.

Think of the images associated with mixed migration: border police in riot gear face-to-face with women and children at national borders; naval rescue ships offloading hundreds of rescued migrants at Mediterranean ports; and caravans of people arriving at the U.S.–Mexico border.

Collectively these images represent chaos and can induce a degree of panic. But one of the most striking aspects of mixed migration is how distorting these images are, given the actual numbers. According to research:

  • Irregular migrants represent less than 1 percent of the annual global total of those living outside their birth country
  • The majority of people with irregular status arrived by regular means, normally by plane, and have overstayed their visas. Probably only around a quarter of those in the global north arrived via irregular pathways
  • Among this minority group who arrive irregularly, many apply for asylum and many are granted international protection as refugees once fully processed

These proportions belie the remarkable political noise mixed migration generates. Both controversial and toxic to politics and policy development, it is a significant disrupter: It has led to political and humanitarian crises and has been a dominating factor in European and American politics.

Read the full article about mixed migrations by Chris Horwood at News Deeply.