Page 24 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Migration data management insights

adaptation, and discrimination (Ratha et al., 2011). Insufficient quality migration data can have significant
Politically, flawed data can fuel anti-immigrant sentiment, social, economic, and political implications. It undermines
encourage restrictive policies, and distort representation, efforts to address the needs of diverse communities,
making it harder to develop effective integration strategies hampers economic planning and development, and fuels
and inclusive decision-making processes. In addition, the anti-immigrant sentiment (Kwilinski et al., 2022). Without
study of migration, from a political perspective, explores how accurate and reliable data, decision-making processes at
migration affects the political landscape both in the country all levels of society are compromised, leading to ineffective
of origin and in the country of destination (Boswell et al., policies and programs. In addition, inaccurate migration
2011; Bottomley, 1992). Migration plays a significant role in data can lead to inefficient allocation of resources, as
shaping political identities, alliances, and conflicts, as well policies and initiatives may be formulated without taking
as political stability, democracy, and governance (Mavroudi into account the specific needs of migrant populations.
& Nagel, 2016). In addition to studying migration policies Countries must invest in strengthening their migration
and institutions, political scientists also study how states data collection systems and making every effort to ensure
manage and regulate national and international migration. that migration data is collected and analyzed with the
It is the focus of economists to examine the economic utmost care and integrity.
dimensions of migration, including the effects on the The phenomenon of immigration has become a
labor market and income distribution (Cahuc et al., data-driven practice, where the collection and use of
2014; Topel, 1999). Their research examines the reasons information play a crucial role in categorizing and
for migration, such as the search for better employment managing individuals, giving rise to the concept of data
opportunities, higher wages, or improved living conditions justice, a critical examination of the ethical and societal
(Berger & Blomquist, 1992; De Jong et al., 2002). In impacts of data in migration and asylum systems (Leslie
addition, economists examine the effects of migration on et al., 2022). Scholars highlight how data practices can
the economies of host countries, including the potential reinforce inequalities and shape policies, emphasizing the
for increased productivity and resource redistribution need for frameworks that ensure fairness, transparency,
(Dolado et al., 1994; Jaumotte et al., 2016; Nathan, and accountability in handling migrant data (Noori,
2014). On the other hand, they also consider potential 2022). Concerns over surveillance, privacy violations,
negative consequences, such as increased competition for and discriminatory algorithms underscore the urgency
scarce resources and the possibility of income inequality of protecting migrants’ rights in an era where their
(Alderson & Nielsen, 2002; Lipton, 1980). data is often exploited or weaponized (Metcalfe &
Barker & Bijak (2022) utilize contemporary models as Dencik, 2019). Data justice thus serves as a vital lens to
benchmarks for their predictions. The use of these models analyze the intersection of technology, governance, and
is demonstrated through two case studies: the Syrian human rights in modern migration. During the past
refugee crisis from 2015 to 2016 and the ongoing migration two decades, European asylum systems have become
challenges resulting from the war and humanitarian increasingly digital, not just in terms of communication
emergency in Ukraine. They found that while it is possible within organizations, but also concerning determining
to use statistical and computational methods to anticipate refugee status and assessing security risks (Micinski &
trends in asylum applications, significant challenges Jones, 2022). The asylum application process requires
remain due to the complexity of migration drivers, data an individual to establish their identity, document their
limitations, and uncertainties in geopolitical events. experiences of violence and persecution, and provide
Similarly, the empirical study conducted by Napierala details surrounding their flight. Recent trends in Europe,
et al. (2022) demonstrated the effectiveness and potential however, indicate that these objectives are increasingly
of their approach in managing mixed migration flows being met through advanced surveillance technologies,
into Europe during the period from 2010 to 2016. Their such as smartphone data extraction (Josipovic, 2023).
study underscored the potential of their Early Warning Asylum seekers are increasingly relying on technology to
Models of Asylum Migration methodology as a valuable gather evidence during administrative selection processes.
tool for enhancing the comprehension and management Data justice is defined as an ethical framework that
of intricate migration dynamics. In addition, the research assesses the fairness and equity of data-related resources,
highlighted the importance of advancing the integration processes, and structures. This concept emphasizes
of “big data” technologies with scenario-based analytical the importance of ensuring that data practices do not
approaches to refine predictive capabilities further and perpetuate inequalities or injustices, advocating for
improve decision-making processes in this domain. accountability and transparency in how data is collected,

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 18 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6846