Bram Frouws
@bramfrouws.bsky.social
Director of the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) www.mixedmigration.org / Views are my own.
Some people said EU countries would be more willing to take in resettled refugees once the number of asylum seekers went down. Surprise! It‘s not happening. euobserver.com/migration/ar...
Europe turns it back on refugees as resettlement quotas plunge
Eighteen EU member states, including Germany, have refused to commit to any resettlement quotas for primarily UN-recognised refugees, as the bloc collectively spurns those with legitimate claims to in...
euobserver.com
🧵 Venezuela after Maduro: what could change for mixed migration? Venezuela has generated one of the largest displacements globally ~7.9 million Venezuelans living abroad. Here are 3 plausible scenarios of what could happen next ⬇️ 1/5 Read full article:
Venezuela after Maduro: mixed migration implications of a sudden regime rupture | Mixed Migration Centre
An analysis of post-Maduro Venezuela examining mixed migration dynamics, return scenarios, displacement risks, and regional spillover effects.
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Venezuela after Maduro: what could change for mixed migration? “Mobility outcomes will depend less on the removal of one individual & more on security, governance, economic signals, & public confidence.” Latest by @bramfrouws.bsky.social Roberto Forin & Simon Tomasi
Venezuela after Maduro: mixed migration implications of a sudden regime rupture | Mixed Migration Centre
An analysis of post-Maduro Venezuela examining mixed migration dynamics, return scenarios, displacement risks, and regional spillover effects.
f.mtr.cool
Our latest podcast episode "The end of development aid?" looks at how major cuts to foreign aid are reshaping migration governance. This is the audio of the #MMR2025 essay
The end of development aid?
Mixed Migration Review 2025 · Episode
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Things are a little quieter.. It’s a good moment for some end-of-year reading! Dive into 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 2025: a collection of essays by young & emerging writers from the Global South. 🔗 Read the full collection:
Emerging Perspectives | Mixed Migration Centre
Discover the emerging perspectives on mixed migration in this 2025 essay collection. Read unique insights from Global South authors on how geopolitical turmoil shapes displacement, policy, and human rights.
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Per speedboot naar Europa: hoe strengere grensbewaking smokkel in de hand werkt
Per speedboot naar Europa: hoe strengere grensbewaking smokkel in de hand werkt
Europa zet in op strengere grensbewaking en dat maakt smokkelaars vindingrijk. Steeds vaker vervoeren ze migranten per speedboot en zijn daarmee de kustwacht te snel af.
trouw.nl
@theguardian.com coverage of a new @mixedmigration.org study we are particularly proud of: how migrant smuggling really works (mixedmigration.org/resource/how...) providing evidence to policy makers based on 80,000 surveys with migrants & 500 surveys with smugglers. Hard to ignore you’d expect!
How Smuggling Really Works | Mixed Migration Centre
Data from 80,000 migrants and 450 smugglers shows how smuggling really works — and why restrictive policies and limited legal pathways strengthen the trade.
mixedmigration.org
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 8mo agoHardline migration policies are fuelling people smuggling, report finds
“Practices labelled ‘extreme’ in 2019 are now so entrenched they'd scarcely be remarkable enough to feature in this year’s review.” @bramfrouws.bsky.social & Chris Horwood show how 'acceptable' migration policy shifted & what it means for people on the move. https://f.mtr.cool/lkjogjvnne #MMR2025
When the extreme is normalised: shifting boundaries in 'acceptable' migration policy - Mixed Migration Centre
What once seemed unthinkable in migration policy has become increasingly accepted, reflecting a major shift in political and social norms. This “normalisation of the extreme” illustrates how ideas once outside the mainstream can enter the realm of political acceptability. An essay by Chris Horwood and Bram Frouws.
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How does smuggling really work? Join our webinar as we discuss findings based on surveys with 80,000+ refugees & migrants, & 500 smugglers. We look at: drivers, violence, corruption, & whether migration policies break the smuggling "business model”. 9 Dec, 2pm CET https://f.mtr.cool/rmfgyiapmi
📢 #𝗠𝗠𝗥𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼! Join us for a dynamic discussion about migration in the context of geopolitical turmoil during the launch event: 🗓️ Wednesday, 20 November 🕑 14:00–15:30 CET 💻 Online Don’t miss this timely conversation. 👉 Join the dialogue: https://f.mtr.cool/ajmunzgqct @DRC_ngo
"Instead of disrupting the business model, the current approach to smuggling is boosting [it] ... Tighter European controls made the demand for their services increase and their work more profitable". @bramfrouws.bsky.social at @mixedmigration.org www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Op-ed: Moving beyond tough talk on migration to real solutions
Politically driven quick fixes are crowding out policy. Europe must invest in a long-term migration architecture that works.
theparliamentmagazine.eu
My latest Op-Ed for Parliament Magazine. Moving beyond tough talk on #migration to real solutions. 4 misconceptions explaining why politically driven 'innovative solutions' don't work & 5 things we need to do for a long-term migration approach that works www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Op-ed: Moving beyond tough talk on migration to real solutions
Politically driven quick fixes are crowding out policy. Europe must invest in a long-term migration architecture that works.
theparliamentmagazine.eu
“Will the new EU Entry/Exit System [EES] always be properly handled at external borders?” @bramfrouws.bsky.social notes key things to watch as EU rolls out biometric border system - especially for asylum seekers’ rights, intrview @aljazeera.com @priyankashankar.bsky.social
How will the EU’s new entry-exit border system work?
From October 12, the EU will roll out a new entry system for foreigners who need short-stay Schengen visas.
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This year's Mixed Migration Review #MMR2025 examines how migration dynamics are reshaping in response to a context of intensified geopolitical turmoil. Join us for the online launch on Nov 20, 14:00-15:30 CET. 💻➡️ Register on Zoom: https://f.mtr.cool/qhbvurkhfe
A persistent myths in media, policy & political debates: #smugglers are luring migrants into irregular #migration journeys. Is that so? We asked 60,000 migrants. The simple answer is: NO. Coming soon: more evidence on how smuggling really works mixedmigration.org/smugglers-as...
Smugglers as influencers on the decision to migrate | Mixed Migration Centre
Evidence from 60,000 migrant surveys shows smugglers rarely influence migration decisions, challenging common media and policy narratives.
mixedmigration.org
Listen to the full interview on the lack of human rights safeguards in #migration deals between #Mauritania and the EU. 🎧⬇️
BBC Audio | Focus on Africa | Mauritania accused of widespread abuses against migrants
Human Rights Watch allege EU deal fuelling Mauritania's abuse of African migrants
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“The priority is really stopping people from departing from the Mauritanian coast, and that priority takes precedence over making sure there is a strong monitoring of human rights violations” said @BramFrouws, Director of MMC, to @BBC Focus on Africa.
Don't miss the launch of this year's Mixed Migration Review, Thursday 20th November. This year's theme: Migration in times of geopolitical turmoil. You can register here: mixedmigration.org/events/virtu...
Virtual launch of the Mixed Migration Review 2025: “Migration in the Context of Geopolitical Turmoil” | Mixed Migration Centre
Explore how migration governance is shifting in times of geopolitical turmoil as panelists unpack hardline policies and future pathways
mixedmigration.org
Mixed Migration Centre@mixedmigration.org · 11mo ago📢SAVE THE DATE: Join the launch of the Mixed Migration Review 2025 on Nov 20th, for the panel discussion: “𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡: 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙞𝙡.” ➡️Register now: https://f.mtr.cool/puzdbhfdoc #MMR2025
I spoke to the BBC’s Focus on Africa today about the new @hrw.org report on violence against refugees & migrants in #Mauritania, a country the EU closely cooperates with to contain #migration towards Europe. Listen here (from minute 08:40) www.bbc.com/audio/play/p...
BBC Audio | Focus on Africa | Mauritania accused of widespread abuses against migrants
Human Rights Watch allege EU deal fuelling Mauritania's abuse of African migrants
bbc.com
Happy to have contributed to this great article by @eloisehardy96 in @Parlimag, on the current state of ‘Schengen’, discussing the risks of not sufficiently valuing #Schengen anymore, #migration diplomacy & more www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
‘Half-dead’ Schengen limps on amid increased migration anxiety
Europe’s open borders are being replaced by ‘temporary’ checkpoints that are often anything but. With anti-migration politics on the rise and a bro...
theparliamentmagazine.eu
Mixed Migration Centre@mixedmigration.org · 12mo ago“Europe is quite willing to immediately… offer something to try & stop [migrant arrivals]… it made itself very vulnerable to this kind of blackmail. It’s a symptom… of Europe’s failure.” — @bramfrouws.bsky.social in The Parliament on migration as diplomatic leverage on EU
What have we learned about the experiences of Afghans taking perilous journeys to Pakistan & Türkiye? 📊 Key insights from 𝟮,𝟴𝟳𝟯 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟳 𝗶𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 (Sept 2023 - Sept 2024): ⬇️
Protection and assistance for Afghans in mixed migration | Mixed Migration Centre
This paper examines the protection and assistance needs of Afghans in mixed migration, highlighting the risks, gender-specific vulnerabilities, and gaps in humanitarian support along routes to Pakistan and Türkiye
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“Aid cuts are driving migrants to Europe”, warns UN refugee chief www.ft.com/content/976f... via @financialtimes.com Sad to see this “we need more aid otherwise migrants will come” threat narrative still being used. Here’s what we wrote about this last year www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2024...
thenewhumanitarian.org
🌍 How is migration being reshaped by intensified geopolitical turmoil? In October, we’re launching the 2025 Mixed Migration Review — exploring how global upheaval is transforming mobility. 🔔 Subscribe for launch updates: https://mixedmigration.org/mmr2025/ #MMR2025
MMR2025 | Mixed Migration Centre
The Mixed Migration Review 2025 will focus on how the current geopolitical turmoil and shifting world order is shaping migration.
mixedmigration.org
Uptick in arrivals in Crete & the Balearics seem to result from EU’s short-term migration strategy: securitising routes & targeting smugglers via deals with third countries—without addressing migration drivers or the links between regular & irregular migration.
Are Crete and the Balearics Revealing Cracks in the EU Migration Deterrence? | Mixed Migration Centre
Read about the uptick in arrivals at the Greek island of Crete, predominantly from Libya, and the sudden popularity of the Balearic islands as an entry point to Spain.
bit.ly
"Meanwhile, the externalization of border controls – through deals with a growing number of third countries, often with poor human rights records – become increasingly fragile and unsustainable."
Mixed Migration Centre@mixedmigration.org · last yr.Uptick in arrivals in Crete & the Balearics seem to result from EU’s short-term migration strategy: securitising routes & targeting smugglers via deals with third countries—without addressing migration drivers or the links between regular & irregular migration.
Very useful & timely analysis from @mixedmigration.org. ”…the current EU externalization strategy looks increasingly unsustainable, as the seemingly never-ending number of deals with external partners becomes increasingly financially and politically costly to maintain.” 👇
Bram Frouws@bramfrouws.bsky.social · last yr.What’s behind the increasing arrivals on the Balearic Islands from Algeria and Crete from Libya? What does it tell us abt EU #migration policies? Our latest article: mixedmigration.org/moving-beyon...
What’s behind the increasing arrivals on the Balearic Islands from Algeria and Crete from Libya? What does it tell us abt EU #migration policies? Our latest article: mixedmigration.org/moving-beyon...
Moving beyond deterrence: The need for a fresh approach to migration to Europe | Mixed Migration Centre
Read about the uptick in arrivals at the Greek island of Crete, predominantly from Libya, and the sudden popularity of the Balearic islands as an entry point to Spain.
mixedmigration.org
Why are people with approved visas still stuck in Gaza? And why aren’t more people receiving documents to leave? @bramfrouws.bsky.social tells @al-jazeera-english.bsky.social : Countries could loosen documentation rules — it’s not impossible. What’s missing is political will.
In Belgium, a mother fears for her children under Israel’s bombs in Gaza
Belgium has approved visas for Rawan Alkatari’s husband and three children, but they remain stuck in the Strip.
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The criminalisation of solidarity is an incredible worrying element of the EU's response to migrant smuggling. We went deep on this issues with @gesanchez.bsky.social , @bramfrouws.bsky.social and @bernd-parusel.bsky.social in this seminar hosted by @sieps.bsky.social sieps.se/en/seminars/...
