The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN agency tasked with supporting global migration, is facing a severe crisis as it grapples with major cuts to US aid funding. In response, the agency has been forced to lay off thousands of its employees.
This comes as the IOM faces growing scrutiny from both current and former staff, who accuse the organization of aligning too closely with Washington’s anti-migrant policies and enabling the US’s mass deportation strategy.
The financial strain on the IOM is a direct result of the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House in January, whose administration swiftly froze most foreign aid.
This dramatic reduction in funding is severely hindering IOM’s capacity to assist some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
An IOM spokesperson warned that these funding cuts are not only amplifying the suffering of those in need but are also exacerbating migration challenges and fueling insecurity around the globe.
The IOM, which employed around 22,000 individuals at the close of 2024, has already laid off a significant portion of its workforce.
Critics have also accused the agency of allowing its Assisted Voluntary Return program to be exploited for political purposes, effectively providing a veneer of legitimacy to the US’s controversial deportation policies under the Trump administration.
In a stark reminder of these tensions, the IOM announced in early February its expansion of efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist migrants in returning to their home countries. This includes resuming its voluntary return programs in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.
These actions come as Panama, along with Costa Rica, has reached an agreement with the US to accept deported migrants, further entrenching the region’s role in the broader US deportation strategy.
The agency’s shifting priorities and financial struggles underscore the difficult balance it must maintain between fulfilling its humanitarian mission and navigating the political pressures of its largest funder, the United States.
As the situation continues to unfold, the IOM faces tough questions about its role in global migration and whether it can continue to advocate for migrant rights while remaining dependent on US funding.
