seminar on modernization of migration management and cross-border coopration modernization of...

SEMINAR ON MODERNIZATION OF SEMINAR ON MODERNIZATION OF MIGRATION MANAGEMENT AND MIGRATION MANAGEMENT AND CROSS-BORDER COOPRATION CROSS-BORDER COOPRATION

MODERNIZATION OF MIGRATION MODERNIZATION OF MIGRATION MANAGEMENT AND CROSS-BORDER MANAGEMENT AND CROSS-BORDER

COOPERATIONCOOPERATION

WORKING PAPERWORKING PAPER

(Prepared by the Regional Office of the IOM for (Prepared by the Regional Office of the IOM for Central America and Mexico)Central America and Mexico)

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 16 - 18 Janaury 2002

MAIN OBJECTIVE MAIN OBJECTIVE

Provide an analytical synthesis of some of Provide an analytical synthesis of some of

the operational aspects of migration the operational aspects of migration management that must be considered on a management that must be considered on a priority basis in the policies and actions priority basis in the policies and actions leading to its modernization.leading to its modernization.

Analyze the operational aspects of migration Analyze the operational aspects of migration management, in regards to control systems management, in regards to control systems and cross-border cooperation.and cross-border cooperation.

CONTENTCONTENT

General Considerations General Considerations Operational Aspects:Operational Aspects:

– Migration Control SystemsMigration Control Systems

– Migration Control ProceduresMigration Control Procedures

– DocumentationDocumentation

– Information SystemsInformation Systems

– TrainingTraining

CONTENT (2)CONTENT (2)

Operational Aspects (2)Operational Aspects (2)

– Cross-border CooperationCross-border Cooperation Integrated ControlIntegrated Control Information ExchangeInformation Exchange Consolidation of FormsConsolidation of Forms

Experiences from the MercosurExperiences from the Mercosur

ConclusionsConclusions

GUIDELINES FOR THE MODERNIZATION GUIDELINES FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF MIGRATION MANAGEMENT AND OF MIGRATION MANAGEMENT AND

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE

FRAMEWORK OF RCMFRAMEWORK OF RCM

Regional IntegrationRegional Integration Regional Cooperation Regional Cooperation Inter-institutional Coordination Inter-institutional Coordination Strengthening andStrengthening and modernization of modernization of

migration government organizations. migration government organizations. (Infrastructure improvement)(Infrastructure improvement)

Compatibility of the Current LegislationCompatibility of the Current Legislation Full respect for Human RightsFull respect for Human Rights

OBJECTIVES OF MIGRATION OBJECTIVES OF MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-BORDER MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-BORDER

COOPERATION COOPERATION

(1)(1) Make available comprehensive legislation that

considers the entire migration issue; respond to the challenges of preparing common

integration policies and strategies in the area of migration;

harmonize migration procedures for admission and control among countries;

Make available objective and reliable information that allows for a design of policies and strategies in accordance with the migration situation in there region;

OBJECTIVES OF MIGRATION MODERNIZATION OBJECTIVES OF MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION (2) AND CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION (2)

provide for trained and structured human resources to manage migration services;

change organic structures of the migration organizations to suit the new requirements

decentralize the operations and budgets of migration governemnt organizations;

improve the infrastructure of the places equipped for the international transportation of individuals;

adequately equip migration offices.

MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION ACTIONS (1) BORDER COOPERATION ACTIONS (1)

Coordinated formulation of regional migration legislation

-->

Benefits: Facilitation and legality of migrant transit, control, admission and residency

Coordination between migration organizations and bordering countries

--> Quality and availability of information--> Coordinated facilitation activities Benefits: Facilitation in the international

transportation of individuals and control and admission

MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-MIGRATION MODERNIZATION AND CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION ACTIONS (2) BORDER COOPERATION ACTIONS (2)

Provide greater administrative and financial autonomy to migration government organizations

--> Decentralize their functions Benefits: Improve efficiency of migration procedures

and service

Migration management training ---> Strengthen the administrative and operational capacity of

migration organizations and others that handle migration issues

Benefits: Adequate response to regional migration issues

OPERATIONAL ASPECTSOPERATIONAL ASPECTS

1. MIGRATION CONTROL SYSTEMS

2. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

MIGRATION CONTROL SYSTEMS(1)

1. Migration Control Procedures : Suitability of procedures according to the characteristics of the means of

transportation Harmonization of the information that is incorporated Integrated controls Consolidation of the requiered documents and forms Standardization of the hours of operation Replicate the “invisible departure control” experience


2. Documentation: Identify and document all citizens and aliens in each

country Incorporte security measures in the documents to

prevent falsification Create fingerprint files Search for identity verification mechanisms when

giving identity cards or passports. Regional standardization of visa requirements

MIGRATION CONTROL SYSTEMS (3)

3. Information Systems: Replace manual means of recording Include simultaneous data entry with processing Incorporate on restricted entries and exits in the

automated record system Equip migration government organizations with

interrelated data systems


4. Training: Centralize training in accordance with specific functions Offer training to individuals that while not belonging to

specialized organizations, do participate in migration management

Include information regarding international legislation for the protection of human rights and for migrant trafficking procedures and for dignified and safe deportations

Include basic aspects of migration control and resource management issues

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION (1)

1. Integrated Controls Can adopt two modes: Single control: concentrate all the controls (entry and

exit) at a central border site between two countries Unified control: establish controls in the border posts

of both countries, but unifying the arrivals and departures in each country, depending on the direction of the destination country

Include not only migration control, but also customs, sanitary and transport controls.

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION(2)

2. Information Exchange Acquire knowledge about and share all the

information referring to restrictions on entry and exits

Agree on permanent consultation mechanisms related to the adulteration or falsification of travel documents

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION(3)

3. Unified Forms Revise Agreement CA4 for unification in regard to

design, required data and temporal and territorial effectiveness

Standardize the design of the entry/exit cards with minimum contents common to the interests of each country

Replace/complement the CA4 form with the entry/exit card

Know all the information regarding entry and exit restrictions

EXPERIENCES FROM MERCOSUR(1)

Common Southern Market:

-- made up of the Republics of: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay

-- with objectives, structure and processes established by the Treaty of Asuncion, the Recife Accord and the Ouro Preto Protocol

-- the Recife Accord establishes the technical and operational measures that regulate the integrated border controls

-- Technical Committee constituted by a migration organizations and citizen identification agencies


Some adopted measures:

-- The creation of Integrated Control Areas between Party States on land routes (single and unified control).

-- The creation of Integrated Migration Control Areas among the Party States, on air and riverine routes (unified control).

-- The establishment of a single working schedule (7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.), from Monday through Friday, for the operation of all the agencies that intervene in the Integrated Control Areas, although the authorized posts for international transit of persons by all routes operate 24 hours a day year-round (outside the official working hours, the service is provided by paying overtime).


Some adopted measures:

-- Determination of working documents for each Party State, for the transit of persons throughout Mercosur.

-- The creation of Centers for Consulting Personal Documents (C.C.D.P.) from Mercosur, in each one of the Party States, for a direct exchange of information among the competent agencies in migration matters.

-- The approval of a sole model for the Entry/Exit Card (Tarjeta de Entrada/Salida, TES), for international transit of persons within the territory of the Party States, by air, riverine/maritime, and land routes.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The challenge lies in approaching migration modernization from a regional perspective as well as in a joint effort.

2. The modernization of migration management is a process that requires a set of concrete and coordinated actions, at both the country and regional level.

3. The member countries of RCM have taken up this challenge through the activities carried out in their Plan of Action.

CONCLUSIONS (2)

4. This Seminar constitutes a stepping stone towards the achievement of this objective, in which we hope to strengthen regional mechanisms for coordination and define forms of cooperation among the countries to achieve modern and efficient migration management within the framework of the guidelines and principles of the RCM.