Immigration Law in a Post-Pandemic World: Emerging Trends and Issues
What current events are forced migration?
Today, examples of forced migration include the refugee crisis emerging from the Syrian civil war; the Rohingya people fleeing to Bangladesh to escape murder and violence inflicted by Myanmar’s state forces; migrants from Honduras and El Salvador forced into a treacherous migration route through Mexico to the United …
Immigration Law in a Post-Pandemic World: Emerging Trends and Issues
The coronavirus pandemic has caused huge disruption in the immigration system worldwide. It has changed the way governments process immigration requests and how individuals apply for temporary status, permanent residency and asylum. There are a range of new trends emerging in immigration law as a result of the pandemic, which will have a significant impact on the procedure and policies governing immigration in the future.
One key trend that has emerged is the need for efficient and effective virtual processing of immigration applications. With social distancing measures in place, physical presence at the immigration office is no longer an option for many applicants. It is essential that immigration offices have systems in place to be able to quickly and seamlessly process applications online. As such, many countries are doing away with manual processing of applications and replacing them with electronic systems.
Another important issue that has arisen from the pandemic is the need to protect immigrant rights. Many migrants have lost their jobs or faced other forms of displacement due to the pandemic. This has led to increased precarity and vulnerability among migrants, particularly those who are undocumented. Governments worldwide need to develop policies that protect the rights of migrants and ensure they do not suffer further suffer further exploitation or abuse due to their precarious situations.
The pandemic has also highlighted the need for a more sustainable approach to migration. With borders closing and countries imposing travel restrictions, there is a need to provide more secure and safe access to countries for migrants. This means more robust processes for screening and vetting applicants, as well as ensuring that countries are prepared to accommodate and integrate newcomers in an effective and manageable way.
The pandemic has also seen a rise in populist rhetoric aimed at scapegoating migrants. This has resulted in increased xenophobia in many countries and a hardening of attitudes towards immigration. It is crucial that governments take the lead in fighting against this kind of rhetoric and ensure that those who would seek to undermine the rule of law, or put the rights and safety of migrants at risk, are held accountable.
In sum, the pandemic is causing significant changes to the way immigration law is handled. Immigration offices need to ensure that applications are processed online efficiently, and governments must take measures to ensure the rights of migrants are protected. There also needs to be a commitment to protecting migrants from xenophobic rhetoric, and to developing more sustainable strategies that ensure safe and secure access to countries of destination.
