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From mobility to inclusion: a regional perspective on migration governance

October 16, 2025 | Activity

In the Americas and the Caribbean, human mobility crosses borders, communities, and generations, profoundly shaping the region’s past, present, and future. Behind each displacement lie diverse motivations and factors, from deep socioeconomic inequalities to contexts of violence, environmental emergencies, and institutional fragility, which today constitute one of the greatest governance challenges in the hemisphere. When migration occurs outside of regular channels, tensions multiply: human security, social cohesion, and the ability of states to guarantee rights and stability are put at risk.

Focusing on the intersections between human mobility, rights, inclusion, and the institutional responses necessary for effective migration governance, ParlAmericas convened parliamentarians and specialists from across the hemisphere for the third in a series of preparatory meetings ahead of the Tenth Summit of the Americas. Participants analyzed recent migration trends and reflected on how parliaments can promote people-centered migration governance that fosters regional cooperation, strengthens regularization mechanisms, and expands safe and regular migration pathways.

In her opening remarks, Dominican Senator María Mercedes Ortiz, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, highlighted the relevance of this hemispheric dialogue on migration governance in a context of growing social and economic challenges. She underscored the commitment of the National Congress of the Dominican Republic to promoting inclusive policies and regional cooperation, in line with the agenda of the upcoming Tenth Summit of the Americas, which will take place in her country.

Presentations by Simone Cecchini, Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Center (CELADE) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Claudia González Bengoa, head of the Migration and Protection Section of the Access and Rights Department of the Secretariat for the Strengthening of Democracy of the Organization of American States (OAS), articulated a comprehensive vision of the emerging migration dynamics in the region and the responses needed to ensure rights-based migration governance.

From ECLAC’s perspective, Cecchini pointed out that migration in the Americas and the Caribbean is a multidirectional and structural phenomenon, linked both to persistent inequalities and to the dynamics of development in the region. He explained that human mobility is part of the demographic and social transformation of the hemisphere, and that its management requires long-term, coherent, and evidence-based policies that integrate migration into development and social protection strategies. He also stressed that most migratory movements are currently intraregional, which reinforces the need for cooperation between countries and a public narrative that recognizes the social and economic contributions of migrants.

For her part, González Bengoa emphasized that the challenges of migration governance in the hemisphere require joint responses based on shared responsibility and respect for human rights. She underscored the need to harmonize national regulatory frameworks with global and inter-American instruments, and to take advantage of multilateral spaces to exchange good practices and strengthen regional cooperation, which are the pillars of cooperative, rights-based migration governance that promotes the protection, inclusion, and integration of migrants.

Beyond the figures and flows, panelists and participants agreed that migration is a structural reality in the hemisphere which, when managed through inclusive and coordinated governance frameworks, can become a force for development and social cohesion. This requires advancing regularization processes and consolidating long-term public policies, as well as promoting legislative reforms in parliaments that translate international commitments into concrete actions for safe, orderly, and regular migration, as well as for the recognition of the social and economic contributions of migrants.

The session was moderated by Senator Alvina Reynolds, President of the Senate of Saint Lucia and Vice President of ParlAmericas, who guided the dialogue toward a reflection on migration as a human security and development issue, focusing on people and cooperation among States.

From the National Congress of the Dominican Republic, host country of the Tenth Summit of the Americas, Member of the Chamber of Deputies Ignacio Aracena, Chair of the Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee, underscored the National Congress’ commitment to this hemispheric process and highlighted the value of the inter-parliamentary meeting to be held in Santo Domingo as an opportunity to develop shared responses to the security and development challenges facing the region.

In his closing remarks, Chilean Senator Iván Flores, President of ParlAmericas, emphasized that migration, in addition to posing governance challenges, is also a source of dynamism and diversity for societies. He highlighted the role of parliaments in promoting inclusive, rights-based policies and reaffirmed ParlAmericas’ commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and regional cooperation as ways to build consensus in the face of common challenges in the hemisphere.

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This meeting was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.