Quarterly Mixed Migration Updates, Quarter 3 – 2025 (July-September)
This article presents the key updates on mixed migration from six regions around the world during the third quarter of 2025. Links to the full Quarterly Mixed Migration Updates (QMMU) per region are included below.
Asia and the Pacific | Eastern and Southern Africa | Europe | Latin America and the Caribbean | North Africa | West Africa
Asia and the Pacific
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- Afghan returns heighten amid earthquake and deportations: Nearly 1.4 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan this quarter, driven by deportation campaigns and regional instability. Iran announced plans to deport two million Afghans by March 2025, while Pakistan started deporting proof of registration (PoR) card holders. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Kunar province further exacerbated the crisis, killing over 2,200 people and displacing thousands more. Meanwhile, Tajikistan issued a 15-day ultimatum for Afghans to leave or be deported.
- Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict: A five-day conflict between Cambodia and Thailand displaced over 300,000 people and triggered the exodus of 100,000 Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand. The resulting labour shortages prompted Thailand to recruit workers from Sri Lanka and extend work permits for Cambodian migrant workers.
- Thailand grants work permits to Myanmar refugees: In a significant policy shift, Thailand granted one-year work permits to 42,000 Myanmar refugees in border camps, responding to steep cuts in US and donor aid and aiming to reduce dependency on humanitarian assistance.
- Australia resumes offshore resettlements through agreement with Nauru: Australia reversed its 2023 pledge to end offshore detention, signing a US$ 1.6 billion agreement with Nauru to relocate 354 former detainees. Meanwhile, 8,750 Tuvaluans, representing 80% of the country’s population, applied for Australia’s climate mobility pathway, though only 280 will be selected annually.
- Tropical cyclones displace millions: A series of tropical cyclones struck Southeast and East Asia during July to September, displacing millions across the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China. The cumulative impact of repeated climate events continues to strain disaster response systems and raises concerns about long-term resilience and mobility in vulnerable regions.
Eastern and Southern Africa | Egypt & Yemen
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- War in Sudan continues to drive displacement…: compared to the previous quarter, cross border movements have increased by 14% in Libya (357,000), 7% in Uganda (86,947), 4% in South Sudan (1,213,654), 2% in Ethiopia (76,085), 1% in Chad (878,002), and <1% in the Central African Republic (CAR) (45,386).1
- …Amidst increasing return movements: in July-August, a total of 2,249,163 return movements to or within Sudan were recorded, representing a 89% increase compared to April-May (1,189,893). The vast majority (1,767,825, 79%) are individuals and families who were internally displaced, while 481,338 (21%) have returned from abroad, primarily from Egypt, South Sudan, and Libya.
- Deadly shipwrecks along the Eastern Route: a boat with 154 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen in August, killing 142 individuals. During the same month, seven migrants died after a boat off the coast of southern Yemen broke down.
- Egyptians and Sudanese among fatalities in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean: during this quarter, three shipwrecks were recorded off the Libyan coast. The first claimed the lives of 18 Egyptians, while among fatalities on the second and the third there were at least 111 Sudanese.
- Continued large scale arrests and deportations along the Southern Route: In Q3, individuals from Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique were intercepted in Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. In September, over 290 Mozambicans were deported from South Africa.
- Arrests and deportations along the Western Indian Ocean Route: Comorian authorities apprehended 200 individuals during this quarter, while in Madagascar 28 individuals, including Malagasy and foreign nationals, were arrested in two separate instances.
- United States initiates controversial forced relocations to Africa, after reaching several agreements with East and Southern African countries. During Q3, a group of third-country nationals was forcibly relocated to South Sudan, and another to Eswatini. Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants from the US and Uganda is in talks to accepted people with pending asylum claims.
Europe
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- Irregular migration to the EU falls by a fifth compared to previous year: According to preliminary Frontex data for the first half of 2025, the number of irregular arrivals in the EU has dropped 20% compared to the same period in 2024, totalling around 75,900. However, while certain routes saw significant reductions, including the Western Balkans (-53%), the Atlantic route (-41%), the Eastern Mediterranean route (-24%) and the Eastern Land Border (-50%), the Central Mediterranean is roughly the same as the previous year while the Western Mediterranean route saw an increase (+22%).
- Greece suspends asylum applications from North Africa: In response to the growing number of migrants travelling from Libya to Crete, in early July the Greek government announced a three-month suspension of asylum applications for anyone arriving from North Africa. The legislation does not appear to include any of the usual exemptions for high-risk groups, such as unaccompanied minors and pregnant women.
- Search and rescue vessel comes under attack by Libyan coast guards: On 24 August 2025, the Libyan coast guard – using a boat that was given by Italy with EU funding – shot directly at the humanitarian boat Ocean Viking shortly after it had rescued 87 migrants from a boat in distress.
- Racist violence breaks out in southern Spain: Following reports of a pensioner being beaten in the southern town of Torre Pacheco, allegedly by three men of North African origins, violent anti-migrant protests broke out over several nights, with much of the violence driven by misinformation online.
- Lampedusa’s “gestures of hospitality” nominated for UNESCO recognition: Lampedusa’s long-standing culture of solidarity toward migrants has gained international recognition, with the island nominated for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status, highlighting a humanitarian alternative to Europe’s securitised migration approach.
- Austria begins deportations to Syria: Austria became the first European country to deport a Syrian national in July since the outbreak of the civil conflict in 2011 after the court sided with the government in a judgement on 24 September.
- Germany steps up deportations to Afghanistan: Germany has increased deportations during 2025, including to Afghanistan, with 81 Afghans with criminal records flown out in July – the second such operation since the Taliban took power in 2021.
- Polish troops granted permission to shoot on migrants “preventatively”: In July, shortly after a Polish soldier reportedly shot a migrant with a rubber bullet, the Polish government announced that security forces were now authorised to fire live ammunition on migrants “preventatively” or in “self-defence”.
- Transition plan for displaced Ukrainians published: in September the Council of Europe published a recommendation “the sustainable return and reintegration” of displaced Ukrainians, though officials have said it is not intended as a call for immediate return.
- The “one in, one out” agreement between the UK and France begins: The “one in, one out” agreement, announced in June and coming into effect in August, allows for the UK to return up to 50 irregular migrants a week soon after they are apprehended in return for accepting the equivalent number of approved asylum seekers from France.
- European court ruling puts “safe countries” concept under spotlight: A ruling by the European Court of Justice at the beginning of August in relation to Italy’s proposed asylum processing facilities in Albania dealt a “heavy blow” to the programme.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- The United States (US) administration is increasing removal flights. Amidst inconsistent data, evidence of growing deportations from the US is now emerging. The New York Times reported that the rate of deportations in July was more than 50% higher than that in the last year of Biden’s term. In addition, ICE flight tracker data indicated that removal flights increased 20% compared to 2024.
- Northward migration towards the US remains at a standstill. Border encounters were again the lowest seen since the current record-keeping began. In Honduras, migration dropped by 92% and in the Darién, the numbers crossing each month fell into the single digits.
- Southbound movement is causing new challenges. According to Migración Colombia, more than 15,000 people travelled southwards between January and August. A report of the Commission of the Ombudsmen of Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia alerts on the vulnerability to violence, robbery and a drastically reduced array of support services for migrants in reverse flows.
- Almost a year after its creation, Colombia set out the rules for the PEP-Tutor program to offer status to Venezuelans. The status will be available to individuals who are the parents or guardians of children with a temporary protection permit (PPT) valid from 2023. Those who are successful will be allowed to live and work regularly in Colombia until 2031 and have access to health, education, and social security services.
- Four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states are creating a free movement zone between them in October. After years of discussions, citizens of these four countries will be allowed to move freely, reside and work without the need to obtain residency or work permits. The initiative goes beyond free movement, as citizens will gain access to fundamental services traditionally reserved for nationals.
- Deportations to Haiti continue. IOM reported that 23,149 Haitians were deported in July and 27,287 in August, compared to 25,671 in May and 23,243, 98% of them from the Dominican Republic.
North Africa
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- As of 28 September 2025, Italy recorded 49,799 sea arrivals; overall arrivals were up 1% from last year but down 2% from last quarter. Most arrivals continued to depart from Libya (88%), though departures there fell by 8%. Only 544 individuals departed from Algeria, yet this marks a 98% increase from the previous quarter.
- Arrivals to Crete from Libya rose to 13,059 as of 28 September 2025, a 318% increase from last year. In response, Greece suspended asylum processing for arrivals from North Africa and launched cooperation with the Libyan coast guard.
- Italy and Turkey signed a new agreement to curb irregular migration from Libya. The deal focuses on joint coast guard operations, information sharing, and training to dismantle smuggling networks, aiming to reduce departures from Libya and strengthen security in the central Mediterranean.
- Libyan authorities have stepped up deportations and detentions of migrants in the eastern part during summer 2025. 1,102 Egyptians were deported across several operations between 1 July and 22 September and around 700 Sudanese were deported in one operation on 18 July, while over 1,500 migrants were detained in workplace raids.
- Tunisia is facing growing legal challenges over its treatment of migrants. Civil society groups are documenting alleged abuses to bring cases before international and regional courts.
- The Western Mediterranean Route (14,648) has overtaken the Canary Islands route (27,557) as the main entry point to Spain for the first time since 2020; as of 28 September 2025, Spain recorded 26,019 arrivals, with WMR growth driven mainly by Algerians but also rising numbers of Moroccans, Somalis, Malians, and Guineans.
- Irregular arrivals to Ceuta from Morocco have increased since late July 2025, with around 700 attempted crossings daily. In response, Spain and Morocco have intensified joint security operations and round-the-clock surveillance, while Spain plans to transfer 4,400 minors from Ceuta and the Canary Islands to mainland regions.
West Africa
Key Updates Quarter 3 – 2025
- For the first time since 2020, the Western Mediterranean Route (WMR) has become Spain’s primary entry point in 2025, with cumulative arrivals (14,648) exceeding those recorded in the Canary Islands (12,909). Overall, Spain recorded 27,557 arrivals as of 28 September 2025, a 35% decrease compared to last year but a 30% increase from the previous quarter.
- Departure dynamics are also shifting southward along the Atlantic route, with growing numbers of boats leaving from The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea as smugglers adapt to tighter controls further north. Journeys are becoming longer and riskier, often exceeding 2,000 km and up to 10 days at sea.
- A Human Rights Watch report alleged widespread abuses by Mauritanian security forces against migrants between 2020 and early 2025, linked to EU and Spanish support for border control. Mauritanian authorities rejected the claims, highlighting reforms launched in 2025.
- Growing numbers of Malians and Burkinabe are seeking refuge in eastern Senegal’s Bakel department. This comes as both Mali and Burkina Faso face a deterioration in security, with a marked increase in attacks and violence across the central Sahel that is spreading into neighboring countries.
- The number of Burkinabe refugees in Mali has increased amid escalating violence in Burkina Faso. Between June and August, the number of registered refugees rose by more than 20,000 people (+21%), reaching over 114,600. The Bandiagara region, particularly Koro, has seen the largest numbers, with around 38,000 arrivals between April and August, 14,269 in August alone.
- Inter-ethnic clashes in northwestern Ghana in late August left 31 dead and displaced around 50,000 people. About 14,000 crossed into Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, mainly from the Birifor ethnic group, though some 8,000 later returned.
- The U.S. administration has begun outsourcing deportations to African countries under new agreements. In September, Ghana confirmed receiving 14 deportees at Washington’s request. Five of the deported migrants have filed lawsuits in the U.S., claiming their removal through Ghana unlawfully bypassed protections against return to their home countries. Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau have rejected similar U.S. proposals, citing policy and capacity concerns.