The economic climate and border security concerns have thrust the question of immigration reform into the spotlight in the 2012 presidential campaign.

Edward Alden says increased internal and external border enforcement as well as economic crisis has decreased the population of unauthorized immigrants in both Europe and the US. Policies should provide incentives to encourage legal migration rather than just disincentives against illegal migration.

The Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment was adopted on May 29, 1979.

Jagdish Bhagwati and Francisco Rivera-Batiz suggest that interstate competition for illegal labor will force states with tough illegal immigration policies to soften their stances.

The UN Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air was adopted on November 15, 2004 and entered into force on January 28, 2004.

The Protocol to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was adopted by the UN General Assembly as resolution 2198 on December 16, 1966 and entered into force on October 4, 1967.

The ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers was adopted by the ASEAN heads of state at the 12th ASEAN Summit on January 13, 2007 in Cebu, Philippines.

Massive flight from Middle East and North African turmoil has highlighted immigration problems plaguing the European Union, says Jean-Phillipe Chauzy of the International Organization for Migration. He says the EU must address comprehensive reform and also invest in countries like Tunisia to stem the long-term flow of migration.

In advance of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz discusses U.S. policy on international migration and the foreign policy aspects of the domestic immigration debate.

In advance of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz discusses U.S. policy on international migration and the foreign policy aspects of the domestic immigration debate.

In advance of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, join Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz for a discussion of U.S. policy on international migration and the foreign policy aspects of the domestic immigration debate.

Elliott Abrams says, "a larger Haitian diaspora would be a far better base for the country's economic future than aid pledges that may or may not be met."

Abigail Hauslohner of Time details the plight of Somali refugees in Yemen.

China's rapid economic development has been fueled in large part by a massive migration of rural workers to cities and industrial zones. Young, poorly educated, and highly mobile, these workers continue to face discrimination due to their rural origins and transitory status.

Migrants suffer as countries around the world adopt protectionist measures to respond to the global downturn. This could trigger economic and social instability in poorer countries, while adversely affecting rich economies in the long-term.

Shannon O’Neil, CFR’s Mexico expert, says Washington’s $1.4 billion multiyear plan to bolster Mexico’s crackdown on drug and criminal rings, while drawing criticism, is likely to win congressional approval. 

The roundtable series on Global Islamic Politics facilitates discussion and debate on key issues that will shape the direction of politics in the Muslim world in the coming years and their ensuing impact on U.S. foreign policy. Olivier Roy discusses the future of radical Islam in Europe.

Dalton Conley, professor of sociology at New York University, discusses sub-Saharan Africa’s high fertility rates and their implications for the continent's economic growth.

As part of the China project, Washington Post takes a detailed look at social and economic factors reshaping China's traditional families.