Letter from the editors

Abstract

The year 2022 has passed with migration continuing to occupy centrefold as a key issue of international and national concern around the world. Europe has once again been the site for mass migration with the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Countries such as Poland and Hungary which have upheld long-standing anti-refugee stances in the past are now hosting a few million Ukrainian refugees. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean continues to witness migrant and refugees' attempts to reach European states. Migration, a perennial topic of contention in US politics, reached another level with governors relocating migrants and asylum seekers to different federal states, and the continued arrival of refugees and migrants from Latin America and elsewhere seeking protection. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 on migration has receded to a large degree, the global economic situation forecasts the increased reliance on migration as a survival strategy and provides a promise of opportunity for many. Migration scholars and policymakers closely follow these changing situations and events. In 2022, International Migration has continued its efforts to publish the highest quality research on migration issues. With its commentary section, International Migration has focused on several significant events and changes occurring in 2022. Commentaries published in 2022 have reflected on the protracted mass displacement from Afghanistan (60:1) which came to the forefront once again with the takeover of the Taliban. The situation in Ukraine and the forced displacement resulting from the Russian invasion was reflected upon from a legal perspective with a focus on the Temporary Protection regime (60:5) and with an eye towards the bordering processes at play in the EU and elsewhere (60:4). In addition, border management and securitization are discussed with respect to different contexts (60:4). Among the other topics explored in commentaries, policies to support migrant entrepreneurship (60:3) and the increasing engagement with big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in migration scholarship (60:2) are included as fields that require both further examination. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting work patterns in some sectors, issue 60:6 explores remote work and digital nomadism from a migration lens. In light of his recent passing and massive significance in the field of migration scholarship, this issue's commentaries include reflections from various scholars on Stephen Castles' work and contribution to advancing the field. The commentaries section provides a space for scholars and policymakers to reflect on ongoing events or key themes in a timely and high-impact manner. Through its call for special issues and sections, the editorial team has sought to provide a space for scholars to collaborate and explore pertinent themes that advance migration scholarship and theory. The year 2022 witnessed the publication of the ‘Policies and Politics of Venezuelan Migration in Latin America’ special section that brought together scholars from the region and beyond to reflect on the mass migration, diverse policies implemented across the region and the impact on hosting societies (60:1). The Venezuelan mass migration tests regional and international protection regimes necessitating reflection and examination. With an eye to the future and changing migration trends, the special section ‘Migration 2030: Governing Migration a Globalizing World’ includes contributions from scholars from the global south and north researching diverse aspects of migration (60:4). And issue 61:1 includes two special sections: ‘Refugees Becoming Members’ serves to expand debates around integration and inclusion in various contexts while ‘African International Migration to the West: Insights from Canada, Australia and Nigeria’ focuses on migration from Africa to contribute to discussions concerning the specificities of from the continent, integration and racism. In 2023, International Migration aims to continue its mission of publishing high-quality and timely research relating to forced and voluntary migration, integration and diverse other topics. In doing so, International Migration seeks to advance migration scholarship and maintain its position as a leading scholarly journal in the field. As part of its endeavour, the editors have sought to promote scholarship from the ‘Global South’ to provide spaces for alternate voices and productive exchange among experts from across the world. In 2023, we will continue with this endeavour. The year 2022 witnessed two great losses in the field of migration studies with the passing of Stephen Castles and Demetrios G. Papademetriou. The editorial team extends their condolences to the families and loved ones of Stephen and Demetrios. Their loss is deeply felt across the policy and academic circles working on migration issues. We take this opportunity to remember and thank them for their immense and invaluable contribution to migration scholarship. With the publication of the first issue of 2023, the editors would also like to take this opportunity to thank authors for choosing International Migration, members of the wider academic community for reviewing articles and contributing to the publication process, and, of course, the journal readers for their continued engagement. We also extend our gratitude to colleagues at Wiley for their continued technical support. Here, we take the opportunity to thank the International Migration Organization for its sponsorship of International Migration. We hope that 2023 brings positive change and better days for all.