As we discussed in a previous blog post, international migration offers many benefits but also presents challenges and difficulties. Understanding and properly managing these issues in the Americas is essential for maximizing the opportunities it brings in an increasingly interdependent global context. 

Let’s look at some of the most important aspects to consider: 

1. Regularization and Governance

One of the primary challenges in the region is ensuring an environment that enables migration to occur in a safe, orderly, and regular manner—an essential step in guaranteeing migrants access to rights and services. 

This process must include sustainable inclusion policies that facilitate the social and economic integration of migrants. In South America, a notable example is the Mercosur Residence Agreement, signed in 2002, which simplifies procedures for citizens of member and associate countries to obtain residency in any other signatory country. 

2. Precarious Working Conditions

Achieving regular migration status is not enough to ensure the inclusion of migrants. There are still many challenges ahead: for instance, despite their proven contribution to development, many of the 169 million migrant workers estimated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) face difficult working conditions, including precariousness, discrimination, and a lack of protection. 

ILO data also shows that migrants tend to earn 25% less than local workers, highlighting the need for policies that promote equal opportunities and protect their labor rights. These policies range from the certification of qualifications and the complementarity of pension systems to more concrete issues like access to banking services. 

3. Need for Regional Cooperation

Migration is an issue that transcends borders, making cooperation between states is essential. Harmonized policies and regional agreements can facilitate the mobility of people, ensure their protection, and improve migration governance.

Success stories include mechanisms like the Mercosur Specialized Migration Forum, which has negotiated the region's most advanced migration agreements, such as the Residence Agreement for nationals of the Mercosur Member States, as well as Bolivia and Chile; the South American Conference on Migration, tasked with building a Regional Strategy for Migration Governance in South America; and the Regional Conference on Migration, its counterpart in the Northern Hemisphere, which brings together countries from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. 

Towards a sustainable future

To fully harness the benefits of international migration and mitigate its challenges, it is crucial for states to implement regular migration pathways and efficient, coordinated regularization processes, in line with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. 

This is not only a moral and human rights imperative but also a contribution to more inclusive and sustainable economic development, ensuring that migration continues to be a driving force in the Americas.