Migration and border policy links: US border troops, American journeys, and more

A new paper published by the Center for Migration Studies examines how Italy is responding to the protection needs of unaccompanied minors arriving in the country. The paper provides a statistical overview of the issue, the reasons for minors leaving their countries of origin, how they transit, relevant Italian policies, and a psychosocial analysis of unaccompanied minor migration.
The International Monetary Fund’s April 2018 World Economic Outlook examines the acceleration in population ageing in advanced economies and recommends a rethink of migration policies as an avenue for boosting labour supply.
At the Kaldor Centre, Claire Higgins discusses the deployment of the US National Guard to the US–Mexico border ahead of the arrival of a migrant “caravan” from Honduras and other Central American countries. Higgins argues that the large number of refugees does not represent an immigration control issue, as President Trump has claimed, but rather the need to expand safe and orderly policies for refugee admission into the US.
Following Peter Dutton’s remarks this week that it may be time for Australia and “like-minded” countries to reconsider the relevance of the refugee convention, it is worth revisiting this Ethics Centre debate on the topic from mid-2017:
In the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, a dedicated taekwondo learning facility is helping to bring joy and hope to children in the camp.
A new working paper published the Lowy Institute looks at international practices for the establishment of undocumented asylum seekers’ identities.
Australia’s new Community Support Program allows individuals, groups, and businesses to sponsor and support refugees to come to Australia. However, it was reported last week that the scheme will exclude refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, and Iran.
In a very interesting project at Overseas Development Institute, Katy Long is journeying across America gathering personal and political stories of migration. The journey can be followed on the ODI website, on Twitter, and on Instagram (examples below).

In 1971, First Lady Pat Nixon opened Friendship Park, a binational space crossing the US-Mexico border. A thin line of barbed wire separated American and Mexican territory. “I hate to see a fence anywhere”, she remarked. The intention was a park where citizens of both countries could congregate, and for years they picnicked on the beach and celebrated quinceaneras here. . What would she make of the Park today? Now, there isn’t just one fence: there are two, and the innermost wall is reinforced with wire mesh, making it impossible to touch more than fingertips. Just to arrive at the park on the US side, you need to hike a mile and half across marshland and beach, and it’s only open between 10am and 2pm on weekends, when a maximum of 10 people are allowed in at any one time. Nevertheless, for some families separated by immigration law, the park is one of the few remaining spaces where — for a few brief hours — loved ones can see each other and speak face to face. . #americanjourneys . Words: @katylongsf Photos: @missjessieparks and richardnixonlibrary.tumblr.com . #everydaylafrontera #lafrontera #borderwall #defineamerican

A post shared by American Journeys (@americanjourneysproject) on Apr 1, 2018 at 1:21pm PDT

US Mexico border today—one hour southeast of San Diego, California. . #americanjourneys

A post shared by American Journeys (@americanjourneysproject) on Mar 29, 2018 at 5:06pm PDT

Migration and border policy links: US border troops, American journeys, and more

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