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La regularización extraordinaria que España llevará a cabo en 2026 podría otorgar estatus legal a un número récord de migrantes en situación irregular, la mayoría de ellos procedentes de América Latina. Este artículo examina la regularización en España, sus posibles repercusiones y las consecuencias para América Latina.
Spain's offer of legal status to a record number of irregular migrants, most of them from the Western Hemisphere, stands in contrast to the policy approaches in Latin America, where many previous regularization initiatives have ended or were closed to new entrants. This article examines the 2026 regularization in Spain, and the ramifications for Latin America.
Immigration is central to America’s economic future, yet political debate remains fixated on border crises and past policy failures instead of how a modern legal immigration system could power U.S. growth and competitiveness in an era of demographic decline. This short read argues for shifting the conversation toward flexible, employment-based immigration policies that match today’s labor market needs, strengthen enforcement through legal pathways, and treat immigrants as a source of national strength.
While much attention has focused on its efforts to tackle unauthorized immigration, the Trump administration has been methodically shutting down a wide array of legal immigration pathways and slowing immigration case processing. With U.S. birth rates declining and the population aging, the consequences could tip the U.S. population into stagnation—or even decline for the first time since 1918.
This essential resource offers top statistics about immigration, immigrants, and the immigration system in the United States, drawing on authoritative sources and the latest data available. The article offers insights on the size and characteristics of the immigrant population, the scope of temporary and permanent immigration via all pathways, enforcement actions, and much more.
With limited land, low fertility, and a changing economy, Singapore has long depended on immigration to grow its labor force and global competitiveness while preserving national identity. This country profile examines how the nation has managed migration-related challenges in adapting to shifting demographic, economic, and political pressures.
European employers are increasingly reporting difficulties finding workers with the right mix of skills, in sectors ranging from health care to information and communications technology. Alongside investments in workforce training and reskilling, a more joined-up EU approach to attracting and admitting immigrant workers with in-demand skills could help European societies address these shortages, as this report describes.
Canada has long been viewed as a global leader in creating welcoming immigration policies. But amid pressures on housing and services, as well as a surge in admission of temporary migrants, most Canadians now say there is too much immigration. With the government lowering its targets for new arrivals, this country profile examines the factors behind Canada's policy evolution.
Denmark has gradually moved to a restrictive approach toward humanitarian protection, in a shift that has made it something of a leader for other countries—and an anomaly as it has done so under a center-left government. As this country profile explains, Danish policymakers have pioneered policies that limit protection, including making it temporary.
No country has been more critical to U.S. border enforcement than Mexico, with Mexican policies central to reductions in irregular border arrivals witnessed since the start of 2024. As the United States and Mexico navigate the next chapter in their long-standing engagement on migration issues, this policy brief provides an account of how migration patterns and policy responses changed in recent years and the challenges ahead.
Find essential statistics about U.S. immigration, immigrants, and the immigration system today and throughout history. This perennially popular article compiles the latest data on the size and shape of the immigrant population, immigrant families, refugees and asylees, unauthorized immigrants, temporary visitors, and more. It also examines legal immigration processing and immigration enforcement.
Many high-income countries are facing a challenging demographic future, as fertility rates drop, populations age, and governments face diminished tax revenues. Immigration is one policy option governments have pursued to deal with this emerging reality, but how effective is it—both at slowing the effects of falling fertility and at changing the age composition of a population? This report examines these questions, using Canada as a case study.
Norway has transformed from a historically homogeneous society to one where one-fifth of residents are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Economic opportunities, a strong welfare state, and humanitarian commitments have been instrumental for immigration, which has been both a driver of growth and a source of debate. This article provides an overview of the history and key trends in Norway.
Japan and South Korea clearly need workers, as their native-born populations age and shrink. Slowly, the countries have embraced immigration to fill the gap—but systems still remain restrictive. This article spells out the countries' similar evolving approaches: The creation of multi-tiered visa systems that preference temporary immigration.
Chinese immigrants comprise the third largest foreign-born group in the United States, although numbers declined slightly following the COVID-19 pandemic's outbreak. Historical arrivals of laborers from China in the 19th century prompted some of the first U.S. immigration restrictions, but recent immigrants have tended to be better educated and earn higher incomes than the U.S. born. This article provides a wealth of data about this group.
As countries in the Gulf region rewrite their immigration rules to reflect changing economic futures, they have made reforms to their oft-criticized kafala sponsorship system. But not all migrants are set to benefit equally. This article provides an overview of the reforms and the growing inclusion gap between highly skilled professionals and low-skilled migrants.
New Zealand, once chiefly a destination for British and Irish settlers, has become a destination for temporary labor and student migration from Asia and beyond. Immigrants comprised 29 percent of the population as of 2023, but many have temporary statuses that do not offer full residence rights. This article provides a wide-ranging overview of the country's past and present trends and policies.
Immigration has shaped modern Switzerland, at times in ways different than expected. Its foreign-born population share is larger than that of many other European countries or the United States. Yet the Swiss public has repeatedly expressed anxiety about newcomers, and periods of increased immigration have often coincided with efforts at restriction. This article provides an overview of Switzerland's migration trends, policies, and tensions.
Many migrant farmworkers in Italy work under exploitative conditions that some critics describe as modern-day slavery. Often, asylum seekers and other migrants originally hoping to transit Italy for other points end up stuck in the country. While Italian migration policy has generally become more restrictive, policymakers also have sought to provide some legal certainty, especially for agricultural workers.
Policymakers across the Americas are weighing whether and how to expand legal migration pathways as alternatives to unauthorized movement. But what pathways already exist, and how widely are they used? This fact sheet provides an overview of available pathways to the United States for migrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and data on the changing use of these channels.