International migration is a structural element of today’s open economies. The numbers of international migrants are growing worldwide, facilitated by the declining costs of transportation, encouraged by the rising awareness of differences in living conditions, and accelerated by the universal reach of the media.

In contrast with the common belief that international migrant flows are predominantly South-North, recent statistics have shown that large numbers of international migrants move from one developing country to another. Like in the advanced economies, in developing countries the increase of international migration is linked primarily to income opportunities as well as to the deepening disparities within the so-called developing world itself.

Since economic activities are principally concentrated in urban areas, international migration head largely towards the cities, especially the larger ones which are increasingly regarded by would-be international migrants as promising destinations where finding best life opportunities. Cities of the South do offer several opportunities to international migrants, especially in terms of gaining access to the large and expanding informal sector, to the low-paid service jobs demanded for in a context of globalisation, to the social networks which migrants need to rely upon for shelter and jobs on their first arrival.

However, current understanding of this phenomenon is insufficient. Official surveys, censuses and registration instruments largely underestimate the dimension of international urban migration. There is scarce information about migrants’ stocks and flows, and even less about their working and living conditions. Since migration policies are generally set nationally, given that migration is looked at principally as a security issue, national and local priorities often differ, leading to contradictory policies, with local governments having very little capacity to control immigration into their cities. Notwithstanding they have to cope with the tangible consequences of migration and are entrusted with the responsibility of comply with the diversified demands arising from a more and more multifaceted, and dynamic, urban society.

Due to the lack of long-term immigration policies and the inadequacy or inconsistency of existing legislation, in many developing countries the legal position of migrants remains questionable. Both documented and undocumented migrants face a seriously disadvantaged legal status, with the consequence that many foreigners are nearly deprived of any citizenship rights, becoming extremely vulnerable to discrimination when trying to access basic urban services. The majority of international migrants add to the low-income urban population and often tend to settle among their own community, contributing to deepen both the existing social segregation and the fragmentation of urban space.
Lack of information and low awareness about the potential benefits and consequences of international migration, along with limited resources and capabilities, are among the main factors leaving local authorities unable to cope with the new challenges the phenomenon poses to urban governance.