Migration Reporting: Recent Investigative Journalism

Migrants in Hungary. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Full Migration Guide here.

Below is small sampling of stories related to migration. Besides doing stories documenting migrants’ harrowing journeys, journalists have found many other significant angles.

A good source of inspiration is the work of The New Humanitarian, which has a newsletter and curates a collection of stories.

Europe spends billions stopping migration. Good luck figuring out where the money actually goes, from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.

“A Dream Displaced,” by Andrea Castillo, Brittny Mejia and Joe Mozingo in The Los Angeles Times, examines the life of immigrant boy living in an LA suburb in the age of President Donald Trump.

“Half a Million and Counting: Venezuelan Exodus Puts New Strains on Colombian Border Town,” by Bram Ebus for IRIN, describes the town of Cúcuta. It offers few jobs, little shelter and much crime, but for Venezuelan migrants it’s better than home.

“Mayotte: The French Migration Frontline You’ve Never Heard Of,” by Edward Carver for IRIN, about migrants using a hazardous Indian Ocean crossing.

“Less Arrivals, More Deaths,” in Medien Dienst Integration, a German website says, “Many refugees want to leave Libya because they face imprisonment, violence and slavery. But Libyan militia prevent them from setting sail.”

“How Weavers in Burkina Faso are Now on Europe’s Migration Front Line, by Saskia Houttuin and Sarah Haaij for IRIN, questions whether efforts to tackle the root causes of outward migration through development aid will work.

“Prison or Deportation: The Impossible Choice for Asylum Seekers in Israel” by IRIN’s Middle East editor, Annie Slemrod, explores the impact of the Israeli government’s plans to begin indefinitely imprisoning asylum seekers who refuse deportation.

“The Lucrative Business Of Fending Off Migrants,” by Laura Secorun Palet in Ozy.com, addresses Europe’s demand for increased border security and describes the niche business that has developed for companies selling the equipment and expertise to build and monitor fences.

“Lack of Migrant Workers Left Food Rotting in UK Fields Last Year, Data Reveals,” according to an article by Damian Carrington in The Guardian based on data revealed through a Freedom of information request.

“Inside the EU’s Flawed $200 Million Migration Deal with Sudan,” by Caitlin L Chandler, bears the secondary headline, “Without addressing the root causes of migration, only corrupt government officials and traffickers are benefiting from criminalizing migrants.” The piece includes allegations of endemic police abuse, including extortion, violence,and sexual assault against Eritrean and Ethiopian asylum seekers.

“When Deportation Is a Death Sentence,” written by Sarah Stillman for The New Yorker, describes the potential violence that may face hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the US if forced to return to their home countries.

“The 10 Best Articles on Refugees and Immigration,” prepared by the Italian group CILD, the Italian Freedom and Civil Rights Coalition, is a good collection understandable skewed to Italian coverage.