Taking stock of the Americas Migration Brief
I'm turning on paid subscriptions. Will you join me in my mission of viewing migration as a regional, interconnected phenomenon that requires we expand our attention to the whole of the hemisphere?
Hi to all,
I’m Jordi Amaral, the founder and author of the Americas Migration Brief. I’m also a PhD student in Political Science at the George Washington University, where I focus on public opinion, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the comparative politics of migration across the Americas. I’m writing to you today to take stock of the AMB 2.5 years after the initial launch in January 2023, after 130 weekly briefs and 11 special editions.
Long-time readers might have noticed how in 2025 the AMB often has less integration-focused news and analysis than it used to, and now there is greater coverage on US-related international cooperation and border enforcement efforts. Labor migration news in the hemisphere is shifting away from the region and towards opportunities in Europe, while stories related to protection issues and human rights are becoming increasingly interconnected with international coordination, deportations to third countries, and enforcement.
Just as the migration-related trends have changed, so too has the funding environment here in Washington and in international development-related issues more broadly. Finding funding has become all the more challenging for many. I have always been a firm believer in maintaining the AMB as a public good—with no restrictions on access or paywalls—particularly for colleagues in Latin America and the Caribbean who face even greater financial limitations. But in order to sustain this newsletter, I need support. Today, I am turning on paid subscriptions with a voluntary-based donation model. All readers will continue to receive the newsletter with full access, whether under a free or a paid subscription. This newsletter is only possible, though, because of your support. As an incentive, I will restrict the archive of weekly briefs over a month old for paying subscribers only, as well as create a dedicated Q&A space for paying subscribers to reach out and ask any questions of interest.
My goal is 250 paid subscriptions to maintain the AMB as an open-access resource for all. Will you join me in my mission of viewing migration as a regional, interconnected phenomenon that requires we expand our attention to the whole of the hemisphere (and globe)?
The last six months have been some of the most challenging for maintaining the AMB, but they have only further shown the important role this newsletter plays in the information ecosystem. This year has only strengthened my resolve to keep going.
Nearly 3,500 subscribers read the AMB on a weekly basis, including:
Government officials from at least 16 countries in the Americas (and many more globally)
Policy thinkers and architects across 70+ think tanks and foundations
Practitioners from 20+ multilateral institutions
Advocates from nearly 200 civil society organizations
Academics from nearly 200 colleges and universities
Journalists and editors from 70+ media outlets
This community helps shape policy, inform action, and deepen understanding across the migration space. I hope you’ll consider becoming a paid subscriber at just $7/month or $65/year—or upgrading your current subscription to a founding membership at $150/year or more—to help sustain this work.
Best to all,
Jordi
Note: if you previously pledged a paid subscription and have now been charged but would like a refund, feel free to write to me and I will process the refund with no questions asked.