UN Chief Guterres Warns Against Harmful Migration Policies on International Migrants Day

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that ineffective migration policies and the misrepresentation of migration are fueling hatred, social division, and endangering the lives of millions. His comments were made in a statement marking International Migrants Day.

Guterres emphasized that while migration can be a powerful driver of progress and development, if mismanaged or deliberately distorted, it becomes a vehicle for division and instability, putting at risk those seeking work and safety.

This warning comes as global forced displacement reaches record levels. Ongoing wars, the impacts of the climate crisis, and economic pressures are forcing millions of people to cross borders in search of survival, security, or opportunities.

According to human rights organizations, migrants in many countries face harsh policies and hostile rhetoric, while their access to legal protection and essential services remains limited.

Among the most vulnerable groups are Afghan migrants. Iranian authorities have reported that over 1.6 million undocumented migrants have been returned to Afghanistan this year as part of a ‘return to country’ initiative. Meanwhile, a large-scale campaign in Pakistan has resulted in the forced return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants, including families that had lived in the country for decades.

Humanitarian agencies warn that many returnees to Afghanistan face harsh conditions, a lack of shelter, limited access to employment, and minimal humanitarian aid—challenges that remain unresolved under Taliban rule.

Without naming any specific country, Guterres urged governments to cooperate through a shared sense of responsibility to protect migrants’ rights and to establish mechanisms that uphold human dignity.

He concluded his message by stating: “Let us make migration safe and dignified for all.”