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Have you noticed that it’s becoming increasingly common to hear harsh rhetoric about closing borders? At Ayuda en Acción, we’re absolutely clear on this: managing migration doesn’t mean building walls or spreading fear, but rather guaranteeing rights, fostering cooperation between countries, and relying on real data. We attended the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026), the key gathering where the world meets every four years to assess compliance with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. It is true that the final document lacks some basic commitments, such as ending the detention of minors in migration situations. Despite this, we wanted to highlight three urgent issues that need immediate attention:
1. Climate change is no longer an excuse; it’s a reason to take action
Climate-induced displacement is neither a science fiction movie nor a problem of the future. It is happening right now in places like Mesoamerica, where droughts, floods, and hurricanes are devastating the daily lives of thousands of families.
At IMRF 2026, we emphasized the idea that climate change does not occur in isolation; rather, it exacerbates existing poverty and hunger, depriving people of the right to remain in their homes and live with dignity. That is why we partnered with the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) and the Government of Spain to organize a side event and demand that this be viewed as an issue of climate justice and rights, not just as emergency humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, the final document barely touched on this.
2. Regularization isn’t a gift; it’s a decision that works
Experience proves us right: when legal pathways are impossible or extremely difficult, migration doesn’t stop—it just becomes much more dangerous and precarious. That’s why migration regularization isn’t a special favor, but a powerful tool for governments to better organize their resources and protect people.
Examples such as the Temporary Protection Status in Colombia or the residency options in Spain demonstrate that granting legal status works: it aids labor market integration and improves social cohesion, without the so-called “pull factors” that hate speech invents. It is thought-provoking to see the step backward taken by the text of the IMRF 2026 compared to that of 2022. It is a warning sign of how security rhetoric is pushing human rights to the sidelines.
3. The journey doesn't end when you return to your home country
Returning to your country of origin—especially when it involves deportation or forced return—is not simply a matter of paperwork or a 72-hour trip. It is an extremely long and arduous process of rebuilding one’s family, mental health, and economic stability.
We have joined forces with the Latin American Bloc on Migration, the CLAMOR Network, and the Government of Guatemala to promote an idea: true sustainable reintegration requires long-term support in eight key areas, ranging from mental health and housing to the education of children who have grown up abroad. Governments remain too focused on the logistics of deportation and far too little on helping people rebuild their lives.
Looking Ahead to IMRF 2030: The Work Continues on the Ground
We know that the global context is difficult and highly polarized, but that only gives us more reason to keep standing up for what is right. The real challenge is to put pressure on governments, support local communities, and counter fear-mongering with facts. IMRF is not the final goal, but a stop along the way. With our spirits high and our conviction as strong as ever, we have already set to work to arrive at IMRF 2030 with tangible results to show for it.
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