Migration Policy Institute names its global top 10

The Migration Policy Institute's "Migration Information Source" has named the "Top 10 Migration Issues of 2006". The top issue was a shift in many government's policies from multiculturalism to assimilation; next came the UN's High-Level dialogue on International Migration and Development, the first time UN ever hosted a multilateral discussion on the topic.

Coming in third was US immigration reform; the Source says, "Better luck next year". It notes, "The United States has not come much closer to President Bush's vision of immigration reform although events in 2006 may have changed the political climate in which immigration will be debated next year."

See the rest of the Top 10 at the Migration Information Source website.

Earlier this year, the Source produced a special issue on The Second Generation - well worth a look. It examines the experience of second-generation adult immigrants in the US.

Éan 2005 conference report describes proceedings

While Éan won't be holding a conference this year, the proceedings of last year's conference, themed "Toward a Positive Emigration Experience", are available online. Speakers at last year's event included representatives of the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain and the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers in the US, as well as people working with emigrant Travellers, prisoners, drug users and sexual abuse survivors. Writer Dermot Bolger gave the keynote speech and President Mary McAleese gave the concluding address.

Among the topics discussed were assisted holidays, undocumented Irish immigrants in the US, recent emigration to the UK, and research on return migrants. The event's networking and information exchange opportunities were meant to serve as an effective way for member organisations to improve the services they give to their clients.

Catherine Dunne, author of "An Unconsidered People: The Irish in London", compiled the report.

See the conference report.

Journal will highlight migration issues

A new journal is being launched this week that will be of interest to anyone working in a migration-related field. Titled Translocations: Irish Migration, Race and Social Transformation Review, the first issue will be launched by Mary Hickman on November 3 at the NCCRI.
The journal will address such topics as globalisation and migration, transnationalism and diaspora, state and racism, culture and the media, among other topics.
Its first issue includes an article by Breda Gray on "Migrant Integration Policy", in which she discusses Ireland's emerging emigration policy in her argument that globalisation challenges the notion of government integration policies.
Read the journal online.