A new report from the Mixed Migration Centre highlights the success of the Safe Mobility Offices (SMOs), which were established by the US State Department in 2023 to discourage irregular migration to the United States through legal pathways, including refugee status. The report acknowledges that while the SMOs have made progress in offering protection to vulnerable migrants, restrictions have limited the potential benefits of the programme. The lack of legal pathways continues to drive people towards dangerous migration journeys, but the SMOs offer a new path to protection in a challenging environment.
The Safe Mobility Initiative was launched as a response to the pressure faced by the Biden administration due to record levels of irregular crossings at the US-Mexico border. The initiative aimed to provide eligible migrants and refugee applicants with support for their immigration cases and other services at processing centres located away from the border. Branches have been established in several Latin American countries, with plans to open more centres across the Western Hemisphere in the future. While thousands of people have applied for services through the programme, the number of resettlements and approved cases remains relatively low compared to the overall number of migrants expected at the southern border.
Despite its limitations, the Safe Mobility Offices have been praised for expanding access to resettlement options for migrants in need. However, the Mixed Migration Centre report raises concerns about the sustainability of the programme amid a volatile political environment in the US, where immigration has become a central issue. Current eligibility requirements exclude some of the most vulnerable migrants, including those in transit, those without legal status, and those who started their journeys more recently. Addressing these shortcomings is crucial to ensuring the effectiveness of the Safe Mobility programme.
One of the key restrictions highlighted in the report is the limited eligibility for applying to the Safe Mobility Offices. Citizens of only nine countries are eligible, and applicants must have been present in partner countries before the offices opened, which excludes many potential beneficiaries. The emphasis on refugee resettlement at the centres is seen as a structural deficiency, as more access to existing migration pathways is needed for those who do not qualify for resettlement. The report points out that the initiative has only been effective in reaching certain groups, such as Venezuelans in Colombia and Guatemalans in Guatemala.
A spokesperson for the State Department emphasized the positive impact of the Safe Mobility programme, noting that thousands of applicants have been able to remain in local host communities or resettle in the US and other countries. The initiative aims to expand options for migrants, including lawful labor pathways to other countries in the Americas and Europe. The report suggests that the model of the SMOs in Latin America could be replicated in other regions, with political commitment and investments to increase safe pathways for migrants. This approach can make a real difference for individuals who are approved for resettlement and help them resume their lives safely and quickly.
