Executive Summary

Millions of people around the world live in and travel through the shadows. Compelled
to leave home, they migrate irregularly without proper documentation to gain access to
jobs, education, healthcare, food, and other basic services. In reality, an irregular migrant’s
decision to leave home is rarely a decision at all. Upon leaving, these people not only
live in the shadows but are also left in the shadows of the broader global conversation on
forced migrants, which typically revolves around those with internationally recognized
status such as legal immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Irregular migration is a
critical, global, and underappreciated phenomenon, hence the existence of this report.
Irregular migration exists because there are not enough opportunities for safety and
prosperity at home and too few regular means through which to remedy that lack of
opportunities. For those who feel compelled to move, the goal of the international
community should be to afford basic human rights to everyone regardless of status, which
means regularizing as much of that movement as is feasible while protecting borders and
national sovereignty.

This report estimates that there are over 100 million irregular migrants around the world,
many of them vulnerable women and children. Their motivations for migrating irregularly
are varied; from fleeing violence and persecution, food insecurity, military conscription,
and resource constraints to seeking better jobs, education, and health care, every irregular
migrant’s journey is different and motivated by different factors. This report sheds light
on some of the root causes that drive irregular migration and explains how irregular
migration has evolved and will continue to evolve over time.
Irregular migration is not a new phenomenon. There is a plethora of historical cases
that prove managing irregular migration is possible. Historical lessons and new big ideas
and opportunities should be leveraged to address current irregular migration flows (e.g.,
people moving to, within, and from Mexico or Eritrea) and to prevent future problems in
areas of current stability (e.g., Ghana). By analyzing Mexico, Eritrea, and Ghana, this report
highlights the complex and varied nature of irregular migration via three very different
country contexts. These three countries highlight irregular migration’s complexity because
they demonstrate how different migration policies can affect why people leave and what
happens to them on their journey while also demonstrating that the lines between
countries of origin, destination, and transit are often blurred.
This report offers recommendations for those three countries and for the international
community on how to leverage existing tools to address the issue of irregular migration.
It also calls for bold U.S. leadership on these issues. Even in today’s political environment,
ignoring the root causes of irregular migration and only focusing on people arriving in
the United States is a mistake with long-term ramifications. The authors argue that U.S.
leadership is critical and feasible, though realistically not on all facets of this complex
global phenomenon. As such, the United States should consider:

▪ Convening a coalition of committed partners to address the root causes of forced
and irregular migration;

▪ Establishing an intergovernmental approach to migration;

▪ Increasing foreign aid, not cutting it;

▪ Using trade as a tool;

▪ Leveraging the global system of MDBs and DFIs;

▪ Creating a “FEWS-NET” for forced and irregular migration;

▪ Extending USAID’s presence in “hot spots”;

▪ Leveraging and partnering with the private sector;

▪ Supporting cities and city leadership;

▪ Improving data collection and utilization;

▪ Prioritizing vulnerable groups; and

▪ Reinforcing strong congressional leadership.

It makes sense from every conceivable perspective—economic development to human
rights to national security and beyond—that vulnerable people should be brought out
of the shadows and that irregular migration should be talked about in policy spheres
with an eye towards solutions to a real problem affecting real people. This report aims
to shine a light on irregular migration and, in doing so, to contribute to an enormously
consequential conversation.