Bush Institute Monthly Immigration Update

Hello, Friends.

 

More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014 – one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Democratic backsliding into authoritarian rule, kleptocracy, and successive economic crises preceded this mass exodus, which saw Venezuelans scatter across South America, the U.S., and Spain in search of freedom and opportunity.

I’ve been thinking about this in the context of a recent piece in The Washington Post detailing executive branch conversations about imposing additional sanctions on Venezuela and whether or not those sanctions would drive outmigration.

Sanctions have been in place against Venezuela for years and across multiple presidential administrations. I’ll let the foreign policy experts argue about the value and usefulness of them as a tool to fight the corruption and human rights abuses there – the Venezuelan government is ultimately responsible for the terrible conditions it has imposed on its people – but Venezuelan outmigration increased after the sanctions were imposed.

About 3 million Venezuelans left for Colombia, and Mexico saw hundreds of thousands transit through on their way to the U.S. Returning them to Venezuela from the U.S. is nearly impossible given the state of our diplomatic relationship (and that of course assumes that it’s in the U.S. interest to return them to their authoritarian government).

Foreign policy priorities can impact migration. That doesn’t mean those policies shouldn’t be pursued. But policymakers must treat potential effects seriously and design reforms that account for those effects.

 

Kind regards,

Laura

Figure of the Month

3 years

Data Dive

 

• The State Department has admitted over 74,000 refugees in FY 2024 as of July 31. While still below the refugee admissions ceiling, this represents tangible progress toward resettlement goals. It’s an encouraging sign that admissions capacity continues to rebuild.

• According to a June Gallup poll, 55% of Americans think immigration levels should be decreased, a 14 point increase from last year and the first time since 2005 that a majority of Americans expressed this view. Only 16% reported wanting to see immigration levels increase. Despite ongoing debates, 64% of Americans still see immigration as a good thing for the country.

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement is “unable to account for” more than 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children who failed to show up to their immigration court hearings, according to a DHS internal watchdog report. Court hearings are the primary method of monitoring the location and safety of these children after they have been released from government custody. As we've seen in the recent past, unaccompanied children may be victims of labor trafficking, and appropriately tracking their whereabouts is key to keeping them safe.

• An analysis by George Mason University's Institute for Immigration Research found that 3.7% of athletes on this year's U.S. Olympic team were foreign-born, while more than 7% were children of immigrants or second-generation immigrants.

• UnidosUS is out with a concise and balanced border policy framework that “reflects the priorities of Latino voters who want a well-managed and secure border.” Some highlights are better legal pathways, cracking down on smuggling networks, and relief for the undocumented.

• Gil Guerra and Channing Lee argue convincingly in a Foreign Policy op-ed that irregular immigration from China should be seen as an opportunity for U.S. soft power rather than a security threat. While concerns about espionage exist, most Chinese migrants are fleeing restrictive policies, economic downturns, and political control. This is a smart take on how humanitarian immigration policy could advance some U.S. foreign policy objectives.

• Caitlin Dickerson and Lynsey Addario’s latest in The Atlantic is a must-read for anyone wanting a better understanding of why migrants continue to risk their lives to traverse the Darién Gap.

• In a collaboration between palabra and the Texas Observer, a Cuban journalist recounts his harrowing journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. His story not only highlights the personal cost of seeking asylum but also underscores the larger systemic issues within the immigration process, and the urgent need for policies that ensure safe and legal pathways for asylum seekers.

• Newsweek reports that gun violence in Central America – fueled by firearms bought in the U.S. and illegally transported to the region through organized crime networks – is driving migration to the U.S. This is a problem in Mexico as well and a reminder that border security – particularly at ports of entry – is not just about what items are smuggled north to the U.S.

• A few Bush Institute voices shared lessons learned from our friend and colleague Joseph Kim, who is a North Korean escapee and recently left his role as Expert-in-Residence at the Bush Institute to further his education at Harvard. Joseph’s story is a good reminder to us all of what can happen when someone is given the chance of a life of freedom and opportunity in the United States.

• September 12, HIAS: When Misinformation & Hate Converge: Antisemitism and its Role in Anti-immigrant Rhetoric

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