Global Migration News In January 2024

As nations grapple with the complexities of cross-border movements, this roundup of all of the migration news in January 2024  provides an analytical overview of the latest developments in the field of global migration.

Our report offers a more analytical, rather than political, assessment of some of the key issues shaping the world of migration at the start of 2024. We also take some guidance from experts who work within migration on how certain changes around the globe will be taking effect and what they could mean going forward.

We’ll be scrutinising the responses made by different governments, and non-governmental organisations to these developments and trends in migration, including examining humanitarian initiatives, integration strategies, and the diplomatic dialogues unfolding in response to these developments.

EU’s New €87 million Grant To Egypt For Migration Management

As 2023 showed the largest increase in illegal crossings of the Mediterranean from North Africa, the European Union has announced an allocation of €87 million to Egypt for 2024, potentially increasing to €110 million, as part of a migration management project initiated in 2022.

This project, implemented in collaboration with the UN migration agency and the French Interior Ministry operator Civipol, is aimed at bolstering Egypt’s capacity for border surveillance and search and rescue operations at sea. With the additional funding it is therefore hoped that it will help reduce the huge numbers of migrants illegally crossing into Europe from Africa each year.

What Are The Potential Success Factors?

The EU deciding to take this course of action and increase Egypt’s funding could yield several positive outcomes. €87 million is not an insignificant sum of money, and this level of grant funding would be expected to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Egyptian navy and border guards. It’s also worth remembering that with this money being spent alongside the involvement of IOM and Civipol in training and equipping the Egyptian authorities the shift in EU policy could lead to more efficient and rights-respecting border management practices.

What Are The Potential Challenges?

There are quite a few negatives here though. The first is, unfortunately, concerns around human rights. Given Egypt’s previously criticised human rights record, the EU’s collaboration raises the crucial issue of ensuring that enhanced border control does not lead to human rights violations, a balance that is often challenging to maintain.

On top of this there is the fact that the project’s success is also contingent on the continued cooperation and political will of the Egyptian government. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s regime has been described as Authoritarian and its foreign policy has been erratic at best. Whether or not the Sisi regime keeps its end of the deal, even with supervision from IOM and Civipol, is not as concrete as many would hope given the size of the investment.

Canada Proposing A Cap On International Student Places

Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has reignited the debate on limiting international student admissions to the country as a response to the escalating Canadian housing crisis. The proposal, which was originally put forth by Housing Minister Sean Fraser in August 2023, comes against the backdrop of a significant rise in international student numbers, reaching over 807,750 study permit holders in the past 12 months.

Why Introduce A Cap On International Students?

Throughout Canada rents are continuing to rise and access to affordable housing seems harder and harder to find for many. The influx of foreign students post-covid is thought to be one of the major contributing factors at play, as the country simplay hasn’t been able to increase its housing at a pace quick enough to keep houses available and affordable.

Therefore, this proposed cap on international students could ease competition for housing, potentially benefiting local residents, as well as students already in the country who are on a pathway to permanent residency post-graduation.

Additionally, some within the government, as well as the opposition Conservative Party have argued such a cap might help protect the integrity of some of Canada’s educational institutions, ensuring that Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) uphold high educational standards and are not offering international study permits to overseas students who are not hitting high criteria for acceptance.

Would It Work?

However, this approach is not without its challenges. Andy Turner, an experienced IELTS Tutor who has helped many international students meet study permit criteria in Canada through the IELTS Exam shared his perspective: “Capping international students could have unintended consequences, particularly in the context of language proficiency exams like IELTS. A significant number of IELTS candidates see Canada as their destination for study, and making these places more competitive puts huge pressure on them to outscore their peers in order to achieve their goals. The IELTS exam is a significant milestone for them, demonstrating their readiness to thrive in Canada’s academic environment. Limiting their numbers might not only impact their individual aspirations but also the multicultural fabric of Canadian campuses. We risk losing the rich intercultural dialogue that these students foster, which is as much a part of their educational journey as the classrooms they sit in.”

In addition to the cultural and educational impact highlighted by Andy, the economic implications cannot be overlooked. International students are a substantial source of revenue for Canadian universities, often paying higher tuition fees than domestic students. Their reduced numbers could lead to financial strains for Canadian universities, which would certainly also do damage to their integrity as holding high educational standards.

Finally, the policy’s effectiveness in resolving the housing affordability issue is questionable, as it addresses only one facet of a complex problem. Other contributing factors, like housing supply shortages and market dynamics, remain unaddressed, and serving the blame of the housing crisis solely with international students seems like a far too simple solution to what is a pretty complex issue.