UN refugee chief urges end to ‘ineffective’ border controls

GENEVA

The UN's top official for refugees on Monday called on governments to abandon restrictive border controls aimed at stopping migration, describing such measures as both “ineffective” and contrary to international obligations.

“By the time refugees and migrants reach them, governments are under political pressure to make reactive decisions. Reflexively, they focus on controls,” Filippo Grandi said at the annual UNHCR meeting in Geneva. “On stopping people from moving. On schemes to outsource, externalize or even suspend asylum that breach their international legal obligations. And frankly, that are ineffective.”

"You might then ask: what can be done? For a start, do not focus only on your borders," Grandi said.

Grandi urged governments to shift their focus to the underlying causes driving migration, advocating for proactive strategies to address migration at its source. He highlighted the importance of measures such as legal stay and regularization programs, as well as expanding legal pathways for migrants and refugees.