Chicago, IL  — In 2022, there were 281 million migrants, which is 3.6% of the world population (IOM World Migration Report). Economic instability, climate change, long-term systemic inequality, violence, and widespread corruption continue to cause millions of people to be forced to leave their homes in search of safety and dignity.  

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Migrants continue facing systematic violations of human rights as a result of laws and practices that deny them access to basic protections on the basis of their migratory status. The economies of countries of origin, as well as destination, benefit from their labor and the remittances they send to their loved ones, but their valuable contributions are not reciprocated with consular services and social protections that ensure a dignified life for them and their families.

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As a profoundly unfair and inefficient U.S. immigration system, built on racist and nationalist ideologies remains in place, it is timely that on International Migrants Day, we recognize and reinforce that mobility and freedom are fundamental human rights. The U.S. must invest in a series of policies that not only uphold the rights of migrants but promote their well-being.

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It is important to recognize that the challenges posed by migratory flows are not caused by migrants themselves. They are the result of a decades-long failure to adopt humane and visionary public policies in multiple areas. More specifically, our failure to invest in the well-being of people. We need to work towards a more dignified future for people not only in the United States but worldwide. This is a particularly urgent task in relation to Latin American and Caribbean nations.

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International Migrants Day is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the courage and sacrifices that migrants and their families make. We must also condemn narratives about them based on white supremacy, lies, and a deep hatred against them. Finally, we must celebrate migrants as a true blessing in the world.

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.