World: Caritas statement on the International Migration Review Forum 2026

Country: World Source: Caritas Caritas Internationalis welcomes the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) (5-8 May, New York) as a critical opportunity for States to bridge implementation gaps and recommit to people-centred migration governance that prioritises human rights. Since 1951, our Confederation of 162 members has served the dignity of all displaced persons, addressing root causes of forced displacement— including climate change —at every stage of the journey, regardless of migratory status. While the GCM established a comprehensive framework for rights-based discourse, tangible progress has stalled. We are deeply concerned by a systemic regression in protection standards, including anti-migration agendas (such as the rise of populist policies and the erosion of international legal commitments), as well as the containment and externalisation of borders through agreements and forced returns that undermine human dignity. Echoing the February 2026 declaration of the Bishops of the Americas, we reaffirm that human mobility is a “profoundly human reality” challenging the ethical responsibility of nations. We urge authorities to shift from securitised containment toward policies that place the inalienable dignity of the human person at the centre of all legislation. In light of these concerning developments, the Caritas Internationalis delegation calls on States at the second IMRF to reaffirm their GCM commitments through the following bold actions: ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF FORCED MIGRATION THROUGH HOLISTIC ACTION. We urge States to mitigate the drivers of displacement—including weak governance, conflict, inequality, and climate change —by investing in diplomatic solutions and community-led adaptation. As highlighted in Laudato Si’, the social and natural environments deteriorate together; therefore, integral development, bold climate action and corporate due diligence are essential to ensure that migration remains a choice, not a necessity driven by environmental or economic degradation. UPHOLD THE LEGAL AND MORAL DUTY TO SAVE LIVES AND END CRIMINALIZATION. We call on States to introduce robust humanitarian exemptions to ensure that saving lives and providing aid along migration routes are never equated with smuggling: criminalising those who provide humanitarian help is unacceptable. With over 82, 000 migrants reported dead or missing since 2014, including record mortality rates on maritime routes, we must reject containment policies that force people into more perilous journeys. Humanity, not securitisation, must be the primary metric of border management. This requires a firm stand against the systemic racism and xenophobic narratives that devalue lives; instead, the positive contributions of migrants must be acknowledged, and both host communities and migrants must be directly involved in designing and implementing the policies that affect them. EXPAND SAFE PATHWAYS, REGULARIZATION, AND LABOR PROTECTIONS. We call for the diversification of regular pathways—including humanitarian, labour, and climate-specific visas—and the implementation of regularisation programs. Successful models, such as the humanitarian corridors led by Caritas Italiana and partners since 2016, demonstrate how civil society partnerships provide safe, regular entry for those in situations of vulnerability. Similarly, the 2026 Spanish Royal Decree, supported by Caritas Spain (see policy document ), to regularise 500, 000 migrants, serves as a landmark precedent for rights-based integration. To complement these pathways, States must fully respect and enforce migrants’ labour rights to eradicate exploitation and debt bondage. ELIMINATE ARBITRARY DETENTION AND PRIORITIZE VULNERABLE GROUPS. States must reject the “measure of last resort” justification for detention in favour of protection, particularly for children, women, the elderly, and other protection-sensitive groups for whom incarceration causes irreversible harm. We urge the establishment of funded, community-based Alternatives to Detention (ATD)—such as community reception and family mentoring—as the default response. These models are proven to be more humane, cost-effective, and rights-respecting than punitive incarceration. As demonstrated by Belgium’s 2024 legislative ban on child detention, ending these practices is a feasible policy choice that preserves family unity while upholding human dignity. ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES. Guaranteeing access to healthcare, education, and housing for all migrants, regardless of their migratory status, is essential for integrating them into host societies and empowering them to fully contribute. To make this a reality, States must implement strict firewalls between service providers and immigration enforcement, ultimately benefiting everyone. SAFE AND DIGNIFIED RETURNS. We strongly oppose border externalisation, offshore “return hubs, ” and “return at all costs” policies, which effectively outsource asylum responsibilities and risk exposing migrants to arbitrary detention and serious human rights violations outside effective legal oversight. Echoing the 2025 RED CLAMOR communiqué, we condemn restrictive orders that ignore the drivers of forced migration. All resettlement, relocation, and return processes must be transparent and rights-compliant, especially in relation to due process—fully informing migrants and involving communities in decision-making. Here, it is fundamental to call for an unconditional respect for the principle of non-refoulement **. ** As Pope Francis said, welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants is a Christian imperative. As people of faith, we affirm that every person has the right to live safely, participate fully, and belong to society. The Church recognises in each of them the face of Christ. As Pope Leo XIV recently emphasised in April 2026, migrants are human beings who deserve to be respected in their human dignity. Highlighting the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable, he dedicated the upcoming 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees to the theme “Even just one of these children”, reminding the international community that safeguarding the rights and dignity of the youngest among us requires urgent and effective responses. The post Caritas statement on the International Migration Review Forum 2026 appeared first on Caritas.

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