The Migration and Border Policy Project

The aim of the Lowy Institute’s Migration and Border Policy Project is to produce independent research and analysis on the challenges and opportunities raised by the movement of people and goods across Australia’s borders. An important goal of the research will be to put Australia’s experiences in a broader regional and global context.

The Project includes workshops and roundtables which bring together external experts and government officials in an effort to build genuinely strategic approaches to complex migration and border issues. It also includes annual Border Policy Research Fellowships in which an officer of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will undertake research on migration and border policy issues at the Lowy Institute.

The Project is supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Experts

Dr Khalid Koser

Nonresident Fellow, Migration and Border Policy Project

Latest Publications

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Labour migration as complementary pathways for refugees in the Asia-Pacific

This working paper examines whether legal labour migration schemes can be opened to humanitarian migrants who may otherwise become targets for migrant smugglers

By Jay Song

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Comparative international approaches to establishing identity in undocumented asylum seekers

This working paper looks at international practices for establishing identity in undocumented asylum seekers and argues there is scope for Australia and its regional partners to develop an internationally accepted standard of identity document

By Kristian Hollins

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Heading north, staying north? The increasing importance of international migrants to northern and remote Australia

This working paper presents three case examples demonstrating the potential for overseas migration to improve population growth, sustain a skilled labour pool, and grow the economy in northern and remote Australia

By Andrew Taylor

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Migration and border policy links: Stories from Manus, journeys to Europe and more

News Deeply has published a list of the top refugee issues to watch in 2018. The article names the refugee and migration compacts, the migration control policies of wealthy countries, the testing of alternative approaches, and questions over migrant returns as major discussion points for 2018

By Erin Harris

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Private and community sector initiatives in refugee employment and entrepreneurship

This working paper examines two areas for achieving positive settlement outcomes for refugees and in generating refugee employment in Australia and internationally: refugee entrepreneurship and public-private sector partnerships in employment creation for refugees.

By Jock Collins

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Migration and border policy links: Manus, labour migration and more

As a PNG police operation at the Manus Island detention centre continues, the UNHCR Regional Representative in Canberra has urged the Australian government's to take ongoing responsibility for refugees and asylum seekers on the island. Linda Bartolomei and Eileen Pittaway explain

By Rachael Buckland

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The fourth industrial revolution and international migration

This working paper examines the implications of digitalisation for skilled migration in high-income countries such as Australia and outlines key areas for policymakers in relation to the future of work and migration policy

By Fiona McKenzie

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Migration and border policy links: Inside Manus, Gulf state workers, violence against women and more

The Guardian's Ben Doherty has published a special report from inside the former processing centre on Manus Island. The Council on Foreign Relations has published an interview with Human Rights Watch's Skye Wheeler focusing on sexual violence perpetrated against Rohingya women. The

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Manus, stateless minorities, the next steps on Myanmar and more

PNG's Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority has said it may use force if refugees and asylum seekers in the Manus Island processing centre fail to comply with relocation orders within two days. UNHCR has published a report examining experiences of discrimination, exclusion and

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Manus, climate change, US policy and more

As the situation on Manus Island deteriorates, the UNHCR Regional Representative in Canberra has reiterated its call for the Australian government to work with PNG leadership to end the humanitarian situation, take responsibility and find durable solutions for those detained. Refugees in

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Rohingya crisis, deportations, people-smuggling and more

President of Refugees International Eric P Schwartz discusses his recent visit to Bangladesh in a Council for Foreign Relations event focusing on the Rohingya crisis. Stefanie Glinski reports on a growing sex industry in the Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camps. The

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: UN inaction on Rohingya, offshore processing, self-reliance and more

The UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra has called on Australia's government and parliamentarians to take responsibility for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Drawing on UNHCR visits to PNG in May and September this year, the statement flags the lack of services and

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Nauru’s growth, worker pathways, remittances and more

Following reports that over 11,000 Rohingya crossed the border into Bangladesh on Monday alone, reporters on the ground are sharing stories of extreme violence, mental health challenges, malnutrition and more. Authorities on the Manus Island detention centre have posted a notice inviting

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration & border policy links: What the US wants, Afghanistan, Rohingya repatriation and more

Reflecting on the failures of offshore processing, UNHCR’s Regional Representative, Thomas Albrecht, urges the Australian government to step up, share responsibility and do its bit to create durable solutions for refugees and asylum seekers. The ‘likelihood of successful assimilation and

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Safe zones, the Black Sea route, investor visas and more

With reports of hostilities in southern Bangladesh, Richard Weir outlines the dangers of establishing Rohingya 'safe zones' in Myanmar. Meanwhile, in a blog post for the Council of Foreign Relations, Mayesha Alam details the severe consequences faced by displaced Rohingya women. The first group

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Cox’s Bazar, refugee swaps, illegal deportation and more

One year on, Chatham House's Jeff Crisp analyses the progression of the UN's Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, set out in the New York Declaration. The International Organization for Migration has published a report on the movement of Rohingya across the Myanmar-

By Rachael Buckland

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Skilled migration policy and the labour market performance of immigrants

This working paper reviews the effect of a specific migration policy change in Australia and examines whether migration policy can be used to influence immigrants’ labour market outcomes.

By Massimiliano Tani

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Migration & border links: Myanmar, DACA repeal, contemporary displacement and more

With nearly 400,000 Rohingya crossing the border into Bangladesh, Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, has called on Myanmar’s authorities to cease acts of violence, uphold the rule of law and allow aid into the country. Domestically, the Rohingya community has urged the Australian

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Myanmar, global compact on migration, DACA and more

Over 125,000 Rohingya refugees are estimated to be fleeing conflict and persecution in Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Indian government is preparing to deport the country’s undocumented Rohingya population. The European Court of Justice has dismissed

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration & border policy links: Merkel and no regrets, Hurricane Harvey and more

The Kaldor Centre’s Dr Claire Higgins offers a critique of the Australian government’s decision to transfer a number of asylum seekers residing in the country to the ‘final departure Bridging E Visa’. The Saturday Paper’s Sean Kelly discusses the motivations behind keeping asylum

By Rachael Buckland

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A Global Compact on Refugees: The role of Australia

Australia has a vested interest and particular experience and expertise to contribute to the Global Compact on Refugees in order to institute a more effective and equitable response to asylum seekers and refugees (Photo: Getty Images/SOPA Images

By Khalid Koser

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Migration & border policy links: Trump’s wall, a Sudanese story, London’s rough sleepers targeted and more

It has recently been revealed that a Greater London Authority charity map identifying the nationalities of people sleeping rough was used by the UK Home Office to carry out its deportation mandate. Writing for The Saturday Paper, Chris Woods considers the impact of climate change in the Pacific

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration & border policy links: Manus High Court ruling, H-2B shortage, Turkey’s Syrians and more

Earlier today the Australian High Court rejected a claim that the Australian government can only exercise offshore powers consistently with the law of a foreign state. This means that Australia’s regional processing centre on Manus Island is legal despite the PNG Supreme Court ruling to the

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: RAISE Act, Haitian immigrants in the US, ‘nexification’, and more

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has released a policy consultation paper on simplifying Australian visa arrangements. Almost 500 submissions were made to the Senate inquiry into the Australian Citizenship Amendment Bill, drafted to strengthen the Australian

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: UNHCR tents, Home Affairs, infrastructure and more

By Charlotte Warden, an intern with the Lowy Institute's West Asia Program. As the United States reaches its annual refugee admissions cap (the Trump administration has cut the intake by more than half, to 50,000), Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has reassured those on

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Migration & border policy links: Italy overwhelmed, Thailand’s crackdown, US travel ban and more

Listen to the Kaldor Centre’s podcast on safezones featuring Professor Geoff Gilbert. EU leaders have pledged further support following threats from Italy to close its ports to NGO ships carrying rescued asylum seekers. Writing for the Guardian, Inna Lazareva outlines the

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration & border policy links: Counting Australians, remittances, trafficking and more

Read Gareth Hutchens’ analysis of the Census 2016 results. The Australian’s David Uren argues migration policy alleviates ageing pressures. Leith van Onselen disagrees. Development Policy Institute’s Matthew Dornan reflects on findings from a recent Horticultural Innovation

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: World Refugee Week, internal migration, Brexit and more

On World Refugee Day, Elizabeth Ferris unpacks the numbers on global refugees, finding a silent majority (two-thirds) of all refugees being displaced within their own borders. Celebrate World Refugee Week by reading the Kaldor Centre’s five factsheets about refugees. Australian courts

By Angela Han

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Migration: Balancing the needs of capital, workers and nations

This is the fifth post in a series that follows an Expert Workshop in Digitisation, Skills and Migration hosted by the Lowy Institute earlier this month in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Here is part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4. As the daughter of an

By Joanna Howe

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Migration and border policy links: UK Supreme Court ruling, FIFA foul, India visa reform and more

Listen to ABC PM’s analysis of the $70 million settlement deal between the Australian government and a group of asylum seekers detained on Manus Island between 2012 and 2016. The Refugee Film Festival begins this Saturday. Find out more here. Proposed legislation granting the Minister of

By Rachael Buckland

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Calling time on the 457 migration two-step

This is the third post in a series that follows an Expert Workshop in Digitisation, Skills and Migration hosted by the Lowy Institute earlier this month in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. In April, when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that he was '

By Peter Mares

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Digitalisation, migration and the future of work

This is the second post in a series that follows an Expert Workshop in Digitisation, Skills and Migration hosted by the Lowy Institute earlier this month in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The 'Fourth Industrial Revolution', as described by World Economic

By Fiona McKenzie

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Migration and border policy links: Safe zones, Thailand’s workers, settling for Cambodia and more

Another Syrian refugee originally aiming for Australia has been voluntarily resettled in Cambodia. Writing for the Asian Correspondent, Max Walden unpacks Cambodia’s protection framework. Kate Hodal discusses the alarming measures taken to silence migrant worker abuse claims in Thailand’s

By Rachael Buckland

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Getting migration right when government is no longer in sole control

This is the first post in a series that follows an Expert Workshop in Digitisation, Skills and Migration hosted by the Lowy Institute earlier this week in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Migration policy, what drives immigration trends, and the impact

By Henry Sherrell

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Strengthening Australia’s assisted voluntary return migration program

This working paper examines assisted voluntary return programs in other countries and argues a customised approach to the Australian AVR program design can increase its performance

By Glen Swan

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Migration and border policy links: ASIO on refugees, Cyclone Mora, US foreign workers and more

Cyclone Mora has caused extensive displacement in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar and destroyed some Rohingya refugee camps in the region. In response to assertions made by Senator Hanson during last week’s estimates hearing in the Australian Senate, ASIO Chief Duncan Lewis has said

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Dutton's fake refugees, resettlement, disaster displacement and more

The Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, has announced a crackdown on ‘fake refugees’ and plans to deport asylum seekers unable to provide sufficient documentation by October. US Department of Homeland Security officials have commenced ‘extreme vetting

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Theresa May’s policy promises, private sponsorship, the global slave trade and more

The Kaldor Centre's Khanh Hoang unpacks Australia’s private sponsorship program for refugee and humanitarian entrants. On 6 June, The Ethics Centre is holding a debate in Sydney on the Refugee Convention. Grab your tickets here. Panellists include Jane McAdam, Erika Feller and Greg Sheridan.&

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and Border Policy links: Filipino domestic workers, the UN migration compact, the Australian budget and more

The Australian Federal Budget handed down this week shows the Department of Immigration expects to cut 245 full time jobs and spend $60 million to enhance biometric capabilities. Read the Kaldor Centre’s take on what the 2017-1018 Budget means for Australian refugee policy.

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and Border Policy links: ASEAN fail, the Refuge fuss, SEZs and more

At the 30th ASEAN Summit, member states were unable to reach consensus on the Declaration on the Promotion and Protection of Migrant Workers' Rights, despite lobbying from migrant-sending states Indonesia and the Philippines. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection told Senate

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and Border Policy links: The ‘El Chapo’ bill, displacement figures, Turkey’s diaspora and more

ANU's Robin Davies and Stephen Howes discuss the impact of Trump's migration policy in Asia. Writing for the Brookings Institution, Elaine Kamarck argues that Trump's border wall won't happen. US Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the 'El Chapo' bill, which seeks to use funds forfeited

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and Border Policy links: Work visas, Manus shooting, the fate of Sumte and more

Australia, New Zealand and the US have announced restrictions to skilled work visas. During a week-long visit to the Middle East, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte discussed trade and migration with Gulf leaders and announced plans to establish a foreign employment department to oversee the

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and Border Policy links: Skill shortages, Mosul, the UK labour market and more

The Kaldor Centre's Jane McAdam unpacks the international legal frameworks to assist people displaced by disasters and climate change. Writing for the Brookings Institution, the World Bank's Kent Garber considers how refugee doctors, nurses and health workers could fulfil skill shortages and

By Rachael Buckland

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Asia Pacific’s role in the Global Compacts on migration and refugees

The Lowy Institute recently held an expert workshop on the Global Compact on Refugees as part of its research collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. This is the third in a series of posts from workshop participants. The UN General Assembly's adoption of the

By Janet Lim

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Migration and Border Policy links: Who benefits from Nauru, refugee safe houses, climate displacement and more

The US Department of Homeland Security has begun fingerprinting and photographing refugees on Manus Island as part of the US-Australia refugee deal. Oxford University's International Migration Institute has released a working paper examining trends in international travel visa schemes.

By Rachael Buckland

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Migration and border policy links: Mixing it up in Yiwu, Zampa law, sanctuary cities and more

By Rachael Buckland, an intern with the Lowy Institute's Migration and Border Policy project. Listen to Oxford University’s Forced Migration Review podcasts on refugee resettlement practices around the world. Writing for The Guardian, Helen Roxburgh examines urban migrant experiences in

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What happens to failed asylum seekers?

Forcibly returning unwanted migrants is not only intuitively unpleasant, it is also one of the most difficult areas in the immigration policies of liberal states. Unwanted migrants (or unlawful non-citizens) include those who overstay or misuse their visas, and, most sensitively, what

By Jay Song

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Removal of failed asylum seekers in Australia: A comparative perspective

This working paper reviews the current policy of removing failed asylum seekers in Australia and draws lessons from similar policy areas and reforms in the United Kingdom and Canada

By Jay Song

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Migration and Border Policy links: Syrian small businesses, EU-Turkey deal, education by phone and more

By Daniel Thambar, an intern with the Lowy Institute’s Migration and Border Policy Project. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched a project to support 300 Syrian refugees setting up small businesses in Turkey. Human Rights Watch analyses the impact of the EU-Turkey

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Migration and border policy links: Populism and policy, IWD, migrants make for safe US cities

By Rachael Buckland, an intern with the Lowy Institute's Migration and Border Policy project. Carnegie Europe’s Stefan Lehne reflects on the current wave of populism spreading through Europe and the impact of this on migration policy. Writing for Foreign Affairs, Nathan Smith considers the

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