The Migration Policy Institute announces the launch of the Migration Information Source web site

Washington, D.C.-- On May 22, 2002 the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) launched a major new initiative, the Migration Information Source (The Source), an on-line resource for timely and accurate data and analysis on migration and refugee issues.

The Source is a first-of-its-kind resource. As debates about international migration grow increasingly polarized, the role of accurate data has grown even more critical. This web site will give policymakers and journalists the data and analysis they need to understand national and international migration challenges and to craft policy solutions to them.

In the past, data on migration and refugees were difficult to obtain and challenging to interpret, with footnotes and terminology that only a trained statistician could easily comprehend. The Source solves these problems by gathering data in one easy-to-use on-line database, and presenting the data with clear graphs and charts and concise explanations. Reporting from around the world by expert analysts places the data in a contemporary policy context.

"International migration is a defining force of our times," said Demetrios Papademetriou, co-director of the Migration Policy Institute. "Many of today's most important debates in Washington and around the world involve migration-from border security and admissions policies to international assistance for refugees. This resource can enhance the quality of policymaking and the impact it has."

"We are committed to grounding migration debates and policy in real numbers rather than rhetoric. The Migration Information Source will provide a solid base for informed conversations about international migration trends and effective responses," said Kimberly Hamilton, managing editor of the Migration Information Source. "If you are looking for facts about the movements of people around the world, the Source will not only give you the numbers but will literally draw you a picture."

The Source's powerful database allows users to access and compare international migration data across countries and generate easy-to-use charts and graphs. The Source also features analysis by leading migration thinkers, Capitol Hill policy updates, country profiles, dispatches from global correspondents, and a press room for journalists. An advisory board of internationally recognized demographers and policy experts provides external review.