Foreign Policy Blogs

Migration

Kidnappings of Migrants in Mexico on the Rise

As if the passage northward were not dangerous enough for a migrant trying to enter the US without documentation, human rights organizations now report an epidemic of kidnappings. Irregular migrants are often beaten and detained by their captors until they provide the contact information of family members, who must then send money for their release. […]

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Migrants in the Galapagos: A Choice Between Wildlife and Humans?

What would it be like to live near one of the world’s most treasured natural habitats? Some Ecuadorians who once inhabited the Galapagos can no longer respond to this question. Concerned about negative impact of human settlement, the Ecuadorian government has forced more than one thousand migrants to return to the mainland. Originally, they had […]

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Immigration Reform Planned by Obama Administration

Next year the Obama administration will likely push for comprehensive immigration reform that legalizes millions who are currently in the United States without documentation. The US has an estimated 11 million “illegal immigrants”, representing approximately 3% of the total population. (Note: Please see a clarification on terminology below.) This is an astonishing number. Albeit the […]

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Juan Mandelbaum presents: “OUR DISAPPEARED/NUESTROS DESAPARECIDOS” airing on PBS Sept 21st

Juan Mandelbaum presents: “OUR DISAPPEARED/NUESTROS DESAPARECIDOS” airing on PBS Sept 21st

Around the world the way to deal with the aftermath of past violence and police states has yet to come to a definitive closure or method to resolve crimes of the past. Often the ruling class in one era of a society remains in the next era, whether it be a peaceful one or a […]

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Elderly Immigrants in the US: A Growing Population Faces Cultural Isolation

As with any change in life, growing older can present its challenges. Beyond relatively incipient social-networking programs like Twitter and Facebook, or newfangled cell phones to deal with, there is the transition from the workforce to retirement, and adjustments as some friends or spouses pass away. New routines must be established. How is this time […]

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Rising Remittances During an Economic Downturn: At What Cost to Filipino Migrants?

Rising Remittances During an Economic Downturn: At What Cost to Filipino Migrants?

A recent Boston Globe article discussed the dramatic impact of the large-scale migration of workers from the Philippines, and the remittances that they send back home. Two major points are worth noting here: 1. Over 10 million Filipinos workers have migrated overseas, representing an astounding 11% of the country’s population. What does this mean for […]

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From the Pages of FPA's Venezuela Blog: “Which Way Home”: The Journey of Undocumented Child Migrants Entering the US

From the Pages of FPA's Venezuela Blog: “Which Way Home”: The Journey of Undocumented Child Migrants Entering the US

FPA is proud to present one of its newest bloggers, David D. Sussman, who writes for  FPA’s Venezuela Blog. Below is a post by David on some movies dealing with Migration and Latin America. I encourage readers to check out FPA’s Venezuela Blog frequently. Enjoy! On August 24th HBO will present a new documentary titled […]

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Should Iran’s Bastille be Destroyed?

Should Iran’s Bastille be Destroyed?

Many stories of the fate of Iran’s young protestors, journalists, and academics have become front page news as allegations of rape and torture on those arrested this summer comes to the front page of papers worldwide. The infamous Evin Prison is where many of those arrested political prisoners have been detained this summer, but what […]

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The Prism of Human Rights: Irony and Power Compared in the Middle East and Latin America

The Prism of Human Rights: Irony and Power Compared in the Middle East and Latin America

This post can also be found on FPA’s Latin America Blog. It came as no surprise to those who knew about the past rights abuses by Iran’s government when many Iranians, especially young Iranians, took to the streets in the last two weeks and were met with brutal retribution affecting every sector of Iran’s vibrant […]

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Voting for Change in the Middle East: A Dialogue on Diversity

Voting for Change in the Middle East: A Dialogue on Diversity

This post can also be seen in FPA’s Latin America Blog. BBC World and BBC Persian services have done a remarkable job in the last two weeks highlighting the Muslim world after President Obama’s speech in Cairo, elections in Lebanon and today’s election in Iran, as well as international links to changing events in the […]

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Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

This blog has also been posted in FPA’s Latin America Blog. Mexico in 2009 has become the recipient of at least half of the most famous biblical plagues starting in 2008. This past week brought yet another earthquake to Mexico, the second this month that received some media coverage outside the country. In addition to […]

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Europe's Immigrants Return Home

Europe's Immigrants Return Home

This Blog is also posted in the FPA Latin America Blog. Europe and the United States had often inherited many benefits from economic growth in the pre-2008 era. One of those consequences, especially for those countries on the border or across the sea from developing nations is legal and illegal migration into their economies. Due […]

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