UN urges global cooperation on migration, rejects crisis narrative

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the need for nations to abandon fear-based narratives on migration during his address at the General Assembly. “Migration is not a crisis,” he stated emphatically in a report detailing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.

Instead of fostering cooperation, global responses have frequently been driven by fear, division, and opportunistic politics, Guterres warned. Across continents, migrants are increasingly being weaponized to score political points—leaving catastrophic human impacts behind.

Guterres asserted that “migrants are not criminals; they are victims,” emphasizing their vulnerability. He cautioned that “the real criminals are ruthless smuggling and trafficking networks” that profit from despair, exploit the absence of safe alternatives, and thrive when international cooperation fails.

“These networks must be pursued, prosecuted, and brought to justice,” Guterres reiterated. The Secretary-General pointed out growing restrictions on legal migration channels, especially for families and low-wage workers who face steeper barriers than ever before.

“When pathways are blocked, migrants do not disappear,” he noted. “The crisis is the failure to manage it together,” said Guterres, outlining two key priorities. First, expanding and simplifying clear pathways of regular migration; second, ensuring development cooperation that meaningfully invests in education, skills, and job creation in countries of origin.

“Let us choose cooperation over chaos, and dignity over discrimination,” concluded the Secretary-General, urging a more humane and collaborative approach to managing human mobility.