SURVEY/DATA Regularization programs for undocumented migrants

This paper is a summary of a study that describes and analyzes the features and outcomes of regularization programs ( also referred to as amnesty or legalization) for undocumented migrants in 16 countries distributed among all continents. It gives a general survey on reasons and expectations of governments conducting regularization drives, the different forms that the programs have taken, features and eligibility requirements most frequently used as well as a summary of the implementation and problems associated with this policy tool. The paper also tries to answer how governments might deal with the undocumented flow of people tomorrow. A country comparison table (53 pages) in the annex contains data on more than 60 regularization programs considered in this study.