About Global Migration
Understanding migration means seeing the people behind the policies and the stories beyond the headlines.
The content on this page is updated regularly.
Latest update: June 2025
In the last year alone:
- 61% of migrants were expelled under immigration policy
- 671,000 people were detained or deported in 2021
- Over 30 migrant shelters operate along the border, many stretched beyond capacity
Read our blog post, 5 Questions We've Been Asked in 2025, for more information.
Migrants are still welcomed at our border despite recent changes to immigration policy (end of CBP One app).
- In 2024 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained 277, 913 people and in 2025 so far have detained 66,886 people in the U.S.
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In 2024, ICE expelled 271,484 people, and 71,405 people in 2025.
More than 84 million people were forcibly displaced as of mid-2021. The actual number is likely even higher, as forced displacement continues to rise globally.
Children account for 42% of all forcibly displaced people—about 35 million children under age 18.
Yes. Between 2018 and 2020, nearly 1 million children were born into refugee life—averaging 290,000–340,000 births annually.
There are three commonly attempted solutions to forced displacement—but all have serious limitations:
- Return home – This requires resolution of the conditions that caused displacement. However, most refugee-producing situations last over 26 years, making return impossible for many.
- Integrate into the country of refuge – 86% of refugees are hosted by developing nations that often lack the capacity to provide sustainable integration.
- Resettle in another country – Fewer than 1% of the world’s refugees are resettled each year, due to limited global participation and political will.
Displacement and loss have deeply impacted children across the U.S. and Latin America:
- Along the U.S.–Mexico border, up to 67% of all children who lost a parent or caregiving grandparent identify as Hispanic.
- In states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, up to 57% of COVID-19 orphans identify as Black.
- In South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, Oklahoma, and Arizona, the majority of COVID-19 orphans are Native American.
Stateless people are not recognized as citizens by any country. At least 4.3 million people are officially stateless, though the true number is likely much higher.
Abara describes migration as being driven by conflict, hope, and a future. People often migrate due to:
- Push factors: violence, poverty, persecution, or systemic injustice
- Pull factors: safety, opportunity, or family reunification
Migration is shaped by both personal realities and global systems—including unjust policies, economic interdependence, and misinformation. Few people want to leave their homeland, but many are forced to by circumstances beyond their control.
As described by scholar Sarah Quesada, migration often follows these paths:
- Blood – Family-based immigration
- Sweat – Employment-based immigration
- Tears – Refugee or asylee status
- Chance – Diversity visa lottery
Yes. Undocumented immigrants contribute around $11.74 billion annually in state and local taxes. The loss of undocumented labor would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $5 trillion over a decade.
68% of Americans believe new immigrants take jobs most Americans don’t want.
Top countries of origin for new U.S. immigrants as of 2025:
- Mexico: 23%
- India: 6%
- China: 5%
- Philippines: 4%
Ready to go deeper?
Join us on a Border Encounter—a three-day, immersive experience at the U.S.–Mexico border that brings the realities of migration to life through firsthand stories, guided learning, and personal reflection.
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