Immigration Root Causes Template

By Eileen Truax

Guide to Investigating the Structural Causes of Migration

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1. ECONOMIC FACTORS

Objective: To identify the economic pressures that expel the population.

Key Issues

●       Unemployment and underemployment

●       Informal economies and insufficient wages

●       Economic inequality

●       Lack of access to land, credit, or markets

●       Impact of Trade Agreements and Remittances

Questions

●       Can you live with dignity on local income?

●       What job opportunities actually exist?

●       Who concentrates wealth and who is excluded?

●       How has the local economy changed in recent years?

●       Is migrating an economic strategy for the family?

2. VIOLENCE AND INSECURITY

Objective: To understand how violence forces displacement.

Key Issues

●       Gangs and organized crime

●       Gender-based violence

●       Extortion and forced recruitment

●       Impunity and lack of protection by the government/state

Questions

●       What type of violence affects the community?

●       Do the authorities provide effective protection?

●       Who is most vulnerable?

●       Does reporting involve additional risks?

3. POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS

Objective: To analyze the role of the State and governance.

Key Issues

●       Corruption and impunity

●       Institutional weakness

●       Human rights violations

●       Political persecution or structural discrimination

Questions

●       Does the population trust public institutions?

●       Are there effective citizen protection mechanisms?

●       Are there groups systematically persecuted or excluded?

●       Does corruption limit access to justice and services?

4. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Objective: To evaluate the effect of environmental deterioration on emigration.

Key Issues

●       Prolonged droughts and their causes

●       Hurricanes, floods, and natural disasters

●       Crop Loss and Food Security

●       Water scarcity

Questions

●       How have the weather and harvests changed in recent years?

●       Have traditional livelihoods been lost?

●       Are there climate adaptation policies?

●       Are there policies in place to restrict the exploitation of natural resources?

●       Who benefits from the exploitation of natural resources (if applicable)?

●       Who is most affected by natural disasters?

5. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS

Objective: To understand community and family dynamics.

Key Issues

●       Family reunification

●       Historical migratory networks

●       Ethnic, racial, gender, or creedal discrimination

●       Educational aspirations and social mobility

Questions

●       What role do family networks play in the decision to migrate?

●       Is migrating seen as a tradition or a necessity?

●       What educational opportunities exist locally?

●       Who stays and who migrates?

6. IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL POLICIES

Objective: To connect local dynamics with global decisions.

Key Issues

●       Migration policies of receiving and transit countries

●       Deportations and forced returns

●       Regional agreements and border externalization

Questions

●       What is the relationship between deportations and new migrations?

●       Do foreign policies aggravate local vulnerability?

●       What effects do regional agreements have on human mobility?

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

●       Combine testimonials with statistical data.

●       Consult local experts, academics, and organizations.

●       Contact journalists or local media.

●       Review international reports and public policies.

●       Analyze historical trends, not just recent events.

●       Identify intersections between causes (e.g., climate + poverty + violence).