António Guterres on Immigration
TL;DR
António Guterres asserts that the real crisis is the failure to cooperatively manage migration, not migration itself.
Key Points
He characterizes migration as a story of courage and resilience, not one of death and despair, which demands humane governance in 2026.
He insisted that migrants are victims, not criminals, and that ruthless smuggling and trafficking networks profit from the absence of safe alternatives.
In a 2026 address, he noted that migrants often face institutional discrimination and biased immigration policies fueled by anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Summary
António Guterres firmly states that migration is not inherently a crisis, but rather the global failure to manage it cooperatively constitutes the actual crisis. He stresses that human mobility profoundly shapes the world, yet the international reaction is often characterized by fear, division, and political opportunism, leading to migrants being instrumentalized and dehumanized in public discourse. He emphasizes that migrants deserve rights and dignity despite their immense contributions to economies and societies, arguing that their plight is exacerbated by increasingly restrictive safe and regular pathways, which pushes them toward dangerous journeys exploited by smuggling networks.
The Secretary-General advocates for a governance model rooted in human dignity, while respecting national sovereignty, and oriented around two main fronts: expanding and simplifying clear pathways for regular migration and ensuring development cooperation in countries of origin. He calls for decisive, measurable action through frameworks like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. He insists that this necessitates cracking down on trafficking, ending child immigration detention, matching migrant skills to labor market needs, and confronting toxic anti-migrant narratives with evidence and humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
António Guterres believes the primary issue is the international community's failure to cooperate in managing migration, not migration itself. He strongly advocates for governance that is rights-based, respects human dignity, and expands safe, orderly, and regular pathways for movement.
The Secretary-General expressed that it is a moral outrage that thousands of people die or go missing yearly because safe alternatives are unavailable. He insists migrants are victims, while the real criminals are the smuggling networks that exploit their despair.
He advocates for translating vision into accelerated action, focusing on two fronts: expanding regular migration pathways and increasing development cooperation in countries of origin. António Guterres urges confronting toxic narratives with evidence and humanity to foster social cohesion.
Sources5
Guterres slams international failure to manage safe migration
Secretary-General's remarks to the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly Plenary on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2026
António Guterres: Refugees have the right to be protected | TED Talk
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.