The head of the UN’s migration agency has unveiled a bold plan to redesign the global migration system to benefit would be migrants as well as economies and nations with skill shortages.

In a recent article, Amy Pope, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), says a more dignified approach to global migration is needed.

She said irregular immigration was at an all-time high and in Europe, with the number of unauthorised border crossings climbing to 380,000 in 2023, the highest since 2016.

Many people risk crossing to different countries to simply look for job opportunities, so they can create a better future for themselves and their families.

Ms Pope said current global migration arrangements were outdated and need to be changed.

To attempt to fix the issue by closing borders or through deportation will only lead to more issues, which is why a new system to deal with migration needs to be built, she said.

Ms Pope supports that the approach to legal immigration does not help fill positions in lower skilled sectors.

She also says that the “asylum process” is more accessible, so it is natural that most people who migrate use it to enter other countries.

Pope adds that many European countries prioritise attracting high-skilled migrants, while not admitting many lower-skilled ones – leading to labour shortages.

Most countries do give protection and access to people who are refugees and are fleeing persecution.

“The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that more than 43 million people worldwide currently qualify as refugees,” Ms Pope said.

But many others do not qualify as refugees, because they have been displaced either because of climate-related disasters or poverty.

Ms Pope said that people looking for “stability, safety, or better opportunities” have limited legal channels.

Even if people fail to qualify or establish an asylum case, “applicants often find a viable route to live and work in the destination country for years before immigration authorities make a final determination on their case,” she said.

Those with “legitimate asylum claims” can wait years to have that status granted, while those who do not qualify can face deportation, a very “expensive and time-consuming” process for governments, resulting in many staying in countries unlawfully.

Ms Pope said that the current broken system is becoming increasingly restrictive and authoritative, as many countries, such as Finland and Poland, have implemented policies that make it lawful to turn back asylum seekers.

“Since 2014, nearly 3,000 migrants have died trying to cross the U.S.-Mexican border, with hundreds more dying in the Caribbean and in the Darién jungle connecting South America and Central America. During that same period, more than 30,000 migrant deaths have been recorded in the Mediterranean, one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world,” she said.

And while every country has the right to manage its own borders and decide who can remain in the country lawfully, “governments must invest in an approach that links immigration trends with Labor-market needs and development gaps,” Ms Pope said.

Building a system that takes advantage of the global marketplace and empowers people to connect with opportunities for security and prosperity, has the potential to be the solution to migration issues, she said.

And addressing the issues around migration will help address the world’s most persistent “development and humanitarian challenges”, thus taking the pressure of the migrants themselves, Ms Pope said.

Katerina Hatzi