[COMMUNIQUÉ] 6th Global Assembly of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA)
Kathmandu, Nepal
24-26 October 2025
With the theme, “Defend Migrants’ Rights, Livelihood, Lives and Movement: Strengthen and Expand IMA, and Unite with Working and Oppressed People against Imperialism!”, the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its 6th Global Assembly held from October 24 to 26, 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
As the largest global alliance of grassroots migrant organizations, refugees, and displaced peoples, IMA gathered 164 participants from 28 countries, representing 125 organizations rooted in migrant and refugee struggles across the world. Delegates arrived carrying not only the stories of their communities but the burning commitment to resist the intensifying attacks on migrants and rebuild the strength of grassroots movements across regions. The assembly venue transformed into a vibrant convergence of cultures, histories, and shared determination to confront imperialist domination and the systems that displace, exploit, and repress people everywhere.
The assembly opened with a powerful cultural performance led by Hong Kong-based migrants who danced along to “Migrants on the March”, the hymn of IMA. Their performance set the tone for the assembly, expressing the courage of migrants who rise amid crises and the collective power forged through solidarity. This was followed by a special video presentation capturing the migrants, refugees, and displaced peoples confronting exploitation, trafficking, discrimination, economic precarity, and state violence. The imagery, testimonies, and scenes of everyday struggle resonated deeply with delegates, reminding everyone that the assembly’s task is to confront neoliberal globalization and imperialism.
The assembly was formally welcomed by Dr. Bijaya Bajracharya of the Lutheran World Federation Nepal, one of the host organizations. She presented khadas, a traditional ceremonial scarf used in Nepal and other cultures for greeting, blessings, and honoring guests to the Executive Committee of IMA. Delegates then participated in the communal exchange of Khadas with the person beside them, creating a powerful and symbolic moment of unity.
Following the welcome, the Opening Remarks was delivered by Antonio Arizaga, Vice Chairperson of IMA. He offered a deep reflection on the 17-year journey of the Alliance, situating its growth within the intensifying global crisis of imperialism. He emphasized IMA’s historic role as the largest international formation of grassroots migrant and refugee organizations, leading campaigns against neoliberal policies, anti-migrant laws, militarism, and capitalist crisis. He called on the assembly to strengthen its unity and sharpen its analysis as migrants continue to confront escalating attacks on migrants, refugees, and their families.
The first keynote address was delivered by Victor Garces, Vice Chairperson Internal of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS). Victor provided a comprehensive analysis of the current global imperialist crisis, outlining the intensifying contradictions in the world economy that disproportionately impact the poor, migrants, refugees, women, and children. He emphasized that the IMA stands as the only global grassroots formation of migrants and refugees, a historic achievement in a world dominated by imperialist powers. Victor explained that contemporary migration is no longer a voluntary search for work or opportunity but a forced condition shaped by war, economic collapse, land dispossession, environmental destruction, and widespread poverty produced by neoliberal capitalism. He warned that as inter-imperialist conflicts sharpen, the most oppressed sectors will suffer the gravest consequences. He ended with a call for migrants to unite with workers, peasants, women, and oppressed peoples worldwide to build an international anti-imperialist front and advance the struggle for socialism.
The second keynote speech, delivered by Mimi Foronda, Secretary General of Migrante USA, illuminated the worsening situation for migrants in the United States. She provided detailed insights into how the Trump administration’s policies have intensified repression, weaponized immigration enforcement, and turned cities like Los Angeles into laboratories for militarized anti migrant strategies. With an immigrant population reaching more than 53 million people, Mimi highlighted that the United States remains one of the most hostile environments for migrants, including Filipinos who rank among the top communities of origin. She shared the heartbreaking stories of families torn apart, workplaces raided, and communities terrorized, but she also gave voice to the growing resistance led by grassroots migrant organizations. She highlighted cases where mass mobilization successfully freed unjustly detained individuals and described how community-based rapid response networks have expanded to defend migrant households and workplaces. Mimi detailed the emergence of the Defend Migrants Alliance, now a formation of over one hundred organizations uniting unions, faith institutions, immigrant rights groups, and elected officials. She underscored that the real struggle is international, rooted in a shared fight against imperialist policies that fuel forced migration. Her message was clear: the liberation of migrants requires dismantling imperialism and fighting for national sovereignty and people-centered development.
The assembly continued with three major panel discussions. The first panel addressed the exploitation of migrants across multiple sectors, analyzing how capital uses wage suppression, labor flexibilization, subcontracting, and remittance dependence to extract maximum profit. Women migrants shared experiences of intersecting oppressions shaped by gender, race, class, and legal status. Delegates described conditions in factories, households, farms, service work, and digital platform labor, showing how the crisis affects migrants differently across regions. The second panel shifted to the geopolitical and economic roots of forced migration. Speakers examined the role of imperialist wars, foreign interventions, right-wing repression, militarism, sanctions, and economic plunder in displacing entire communities, linking crises in West Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Asia to the global imperialist system. They stressed that both sending and receiving countries participate in maintaining a system that treats migrants as expendable labor or political scapegoats. The third panel focused on organizing and resistance, featuring community leaders who shared strategies for building mass movements, strengthening grassroots organizations, and sustaining campaigns under repressive conditions. Their contributions underscored the importance of political education, cultural work, alliances, and cross-border solidarity.
These discussions were carried into the breakout group sessions where delegates focused on sectoral analyses and specific migrant and refugee concerns. Participants deepened their study of the conditions of manufacturing, platform, domestic, agricultural, and seafarers, as well as refugees, undocumented migrants, women facing violence, children, trafficked persons, and communities impacted by climate change. They shared challenges in organizing across borders, building campaigns, responding to attacks, and developing education and advocacy programs. They also worked collectively to propose resolutions and action points for the next three years and to shape the future direction of the Alliance’s working groups and sectoral priorities. The energy in these sessions reflected the diversity and commitment of IMA’s membership, who drew lessons from both victories and setbacks in organizing under difficult and often dangerous conditions.
On the second day, regional meetings were held for Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific. Delegates presented updates on their regional campaigns, political conditions, organizational expansion, and key challenges. They discussed strategies to deepen solidarity, strengthen region-specific campaigns, support members under attack, and enhance coordination across borders. Each region elected its representative to the International Coordinating Body and gave a reportback summarizing their discussions and recommendations. Associate Members also convened to select their two representatives to the ICB and contributed recommendations for the General Program of Action. In the evenings, the assembly grounds came alive with side events hosted by member organizations, featuring cultural performances, film screenings, and presentations of grassroots campaigns. These gatherings nurtured camaraderie, strengthened international friendships, and reaffirmed the cultural richness of migrant communities.
The third day centered on the organizational consolidation of the Alliance. The assembly reviewed and confirmed the organizations present and approved 44 new member organizations.
AFRICA (1): Kasarani Social Justice Centre [Kenya]
ASIA-PACIFIC (19): Anirban Survivors Voice, Centre for Women and Children Studies, Dhaka Palli Sheba Sangstha (DPSS), SHIELD - Society for Human Improvement, Empowerment and Lasting Development, Sommilitio Sramik Federation (SSF) [Bangladesh]; Nepalese India Society [India]; Beranda Migran, KOPPMI [Indonesia], Public Foundation "JIPAR" [Kyrgyzstan], Association of Family Support & Welfare Selangor & Kuala Lumpur (Family Frontiers), KARAMAY ng Migranteng Pilipino sa Penang, REACT [Malaysia], LWF Nepal, Nepal Indigenous Women’s Forum, Pourakhi Nepal [Nepal]; Gabriela Aotearoa New Zealand [New Zealand], Binongan Tribe and Migrant Friends [Singapore]; Kaagapay ng Migranteng Pilipino sa Thailand, Phuket Pinay Migrants Association [Thailand]
CANADA (8): Association for the Rights of Household & Farm Workers (DTMF), Associate Migration Et Vie, Bici Libre, Calgary Climate Hub Association, Climate Justice Edmonton, Conseil Migrant, Mary Ward Centre, Students for Migrant Justice
USA (11): Anakbayan South Seattle - USA, Cocinando Con Manos Amigas Repartiendo Amor (CMARA), Comunidad sin Fronteras (CSF), Filipino Community Health Board, Laborers Action Group (Accion Laboral), Latinos Unidos Siempre, Los Ronderos de las Redes, Myanmar Student Union, Migrante University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), Voz Workers Rights Education Project
EUROPE (3): Colectivos de Peruanas "Genera y difunde conciencia" [Italy], Kanlungan [United Kingdom], Union de Peruanos en Europa [Italy]
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN (2): Frente de Migrantes en Accion (FMA) [Ecuador], Fundacion Conclave Investigativo de las Ciencias [Chile]
The Chairperson’s Report and Treasurer’s Report were presented, discussed, and adopted, offering a comprehensive overview of IMA’s accomplishments, financial standing, and organizational challenges. The assembly also approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution and By Laws and adopted the General Program of Action for 2025 to 2028, setting the direction for campaigns, advocacy, education, movement building, and international solidarity for the next three years. Country and action resolutions were deliberated, approved and added to the GPOA.
The Assembly likewise elected the International Coordinating Body for the 2025 to 2028 term, namely: Fajar Santoadi (Malaysia), Antonio Arizaga (USA), Edwin Alvarado (Ecuador), Sabrina Qistina (Canada), Mark Louie Aquino (Middle East), Clinton Ouma Ojiambo (Kenya), Viviana Medina (Canada), Jessica Rojas (USA), Andrea Martinez (United Kingdom), Josefina Carolina Pingkihan (Philippines), Marco Luciano (Canada), Eni Lestari (Indonesia), Luz Miriam Jaramillo (Italy), Mandeep Singh Bela (New Zealand), Rey Asis (Hong Kong) and Manuel Hidalgo (Chile). Pervez Siddiqui (Bangladesh) and Emma Martinez (USA) were the representatives of the associate members to the ICB. It was resolved during the Assembly that the 19th seat in the ICB will be reserved for the refugee sector, with its election to be determined in the forthcoming EC and ICB meetings.
The newly-formed ICB elected among themselves the Executive Committee, composed of the following: Chairperson - Eni Lestari, Vice-Chairperson - Antonio Arizaga, Secretary General - Josefina Carolina Pingkihan, Deputy Secretary General - Manuel Hidalgo, and Treasurer - Rey Asis.
The IMA will continue developing its working groups in key sectors and thematic areas including refugees, manufacturing and platform workers, agriculture, migrant domestic work, seafarers, youth and education, trafficking and disappearances, and violence against women. These working groups will play an essential role in shaping campaigns, conducting research, organizing communities, and raising political consciousness across regions.
The 6th Global Assembly stands as a renewed declaration of unity and determination. It demonstrated the unwavering commitment of the International Migrants Alliance to fortify its ranks and intensify its struggle against exploitation, displacement, racism, militarism, and imperialist domination. As IMA prepares for its twentieth anniversary in 2028, the Alliance brings forward a stronger and more united movement, committed to defending the rights, lives, livelihoods, and freedom of migrants, refugees, and displaced peoples everywhere. The struggle continues, and the Assembly reaffirms that migrants, together with all working and oppressed peoples, will persist in building a world where the dignity and freedom of movement of all are placed above profit and plunder.
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