The Americas is now a day a key migration destination *

Migration in the Western Hemisphere has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent decades. What was once a conversation between the countries of origin of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the receiving countries of the North, has become a complex issue that affects almost all countries in the region. The change in migration patterns has been most pronounced since the early 2010s, when political and economic crises, as well as natural disasters, displaced millions from Venezuela and hundreds of thousands from northern Central America, Cuba, and Haiti.
As a result, almost every country in the Americas is experiencing an increase in the number of immigrants, many of whom arrive as asylum seekers or in need of humanitarian support, sometimes including large numbers of unaccompanied minors. The COVID-19 pandemic and uneven immigrant integration mechanisms have further contributed to the rise in northward migration, with the US-Mexico border experiencing record numbers of unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
Venezuelans make up the largest group of displaced migrants in the region, with approximately 7.4 million displaced since 2015, and it is estimated that more than a third of them are currently in Colombia. Haitians have also been migrating to countries in the region since the 2010 earthquake, with many settling in the United States, the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Brazil. Cuban immigrants have been leaving their country due to its political and economic situation, and many go to the United States and other countries in the region. Since the 2018 political crackdown in Nicaragua, around 200,000 Nicaraguans have applied for asylum in Costa Rica, with some fleeing to Panama and the United States.
Different countries in the region have diverse immigrant populations, with Colombia being the country that hosts the largest immigrant population due to the arrival of Venezuelans, while immigrants from the United States represent two-thirds of all immigrants in Mexico.
There are subregional mobility agreements that have made migration more fluid and easier to manage, such as the CSME, the Mercosur Residence Agreement, the CA-4 agreement, and the Andean Community mobility agreement.
Government responses to new arrivals have varied, with most countries offering legal status to displaced Venezuelans through their asylum system, regular visa channels, or regional mobility agreements. However, legal status is often temporary and may not provide full access to the job market. Haitians have faced more explicit hostility and Nicaraguans have received more support from Costa Rica, though the government has made its asylum system more restrictive. Mexico has extended both asylum protections and humanitarian visas to arriving migrants, but they often face administrative barriers to long-term inclusion in Mexican society.
Many immigrants who have professional skills find themselves in low-paying positions despite attempts by some countries to provide legal pathways and education for integration into the labor market and society.
Governments are trying to balance controlling their borders, building legal pathways and developing protection systems, but often they prioritize one or two priorities over others. Despite lacking recent experience with mass migration, these countries have shown openness and pragmatism in handling the situation.

In response to the growing number of countries facing migration and humanitarian protection in the Western Hemisphere, multiple regional forums have been established. These include sub-regional agreements on mobility, the Quito Process, the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants (R4V), and the Regional Conference on Migration between countries in North and Central America and the Regional Conference on Migration in South America. . The 2022 Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, to which 21 countries have committed, highlights the need for international cooperation to address the challenges of integrating displaced populations. While challenges remain, the increased focus on migration presents an opportunity for governments to develop effective mobility policies, institutions, and management throughout the hemisphere

*This is a summary of the article-> In a Dramatic Shift, the Americas Have Become a Leading Migration Destination by By Andrew Selee, Valerie Lacarte, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Diego Chaves-González, María Jesús Mora, and Andrea Tanco

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