The year 2020 will be remembered as an historic one for migration, particularly because of the global movement that was stopped in its tracks, delayed, or otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is difficult to fully appreciate the extent of the outbreak’s impact on migration and human mobility more generally, but the Migration Information Source’s look at the Top 10 Migration Issues of the Year sought to sketch some of the ways in which the public-health crisis affected 2020.

The coronavirus was far from the only reason that this will be a memorable year for migration. For refugees and asylum seekers, the last 12 months saw further erosion of the global protection regime, while at the same time long-running crises from Venezuela to Yemen continued to fester. Natural disasters spurred the displacement of millions around the world, in the latest evidence of the connection between extreme weather and migration, whether temporary or permanent. And the Black Lives Matter movement, which was born as a U.S. response to police violence, grew to become a rallying cry for immigrants and their families internationally.

With a vaccine now beginning to be administered in a handful of countries, it seems possible that the planet will make considerable progress against the coronavirus in 2021. Yet its impacts will continue to be felt widely, including in the mobility realm. Because of hurdles such as lingering border restrictions and economic dislocation, the International Air Transport Association does not expect passenger air travel to return to 2019 levels until 2024 “at the earliest.”

Even when international movement does return to pre-pandemic levels, it will likely look significantly different than it did before. Health checks, coronavirus tests, and vaccination records are already starting to become necessary to cross international borders. And the example of quick, unilateral border lockdowns undoubtedly will linger as a policy response to future challenges. My colleague Meghan Benton has investigated many of these questions on the Migration Policy Institute’s new podcast, Moving Beyond Pandemic.

Of course, the Source will be analyzing and interrogating these issues around the world in the new year and in the years to come—as will MPI more broadly. I hope you enjoy this newsletter and stay tuned to see what 2021 brings. Please let me know if there are elements, areas, or themes that you would like us to explore in the new year.

Wishing you happy, safe holidays and a pleasant start to 2021.

Best regards,
Julian Hattem
Editor, Migration Information Source
[email protected]