IOM Spokesperson: Statement On Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) of Migrants in the United States
12 May 2025, Geneva - For decades, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programs in more than 100 countries—helping people without resources, legal options, or support return to their countries of origin safely and with dignity. AVR is a proven, rights-based tool that allows migrants facing the challenges of a complex global migration system to regain agency and make informed decisions.
At the request of the U.S. government, IOM is providing AVR to people in the U.S. who register to voluntarily return to their countries of origin. Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way. This reflects IOM’s global mandate to protect vulnerable people, uphold human dignity, and ensure that migration—whether to a new home or in return—is safe, orderly, and rights-based.
The United States determines its own migration policy. IOM does not facilitate or implement deportations. Our involvement begins only after an individual gives informed consent to receive assistance. In these moments, IOM ensures that people have access to accurate information and essential services, in line with international standards.
IOM helps people navigate the complexities of the migration system to find stability, safety, and the ability to make meaningful choices about their future. In the United States, many migrants face a challenging reality—navigating complex systems with limited options and resources. This initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.
*ENDS*
