Refugees and other distinct migrant populations often travel together. The policy concept of 'mixed migration' arose to describe this migration phenomenon. There are, however, various meanings of the term. These can be divided into two categories: on the one hand are understandings that focus on the complex composition of migration flows; on the other are understandings that consider complexity and individuals' mixed motivations for moving. Because of this, 'mixed migration' has contributed less to thinking around, and humanitarian action in relation to, migration than it might otherwise have. This paper describes these diverse understandings and harnesses relevant legal principles drawn from refugee, human rights, humanitarian and transnational criminal law, as well as from the law of the sea in support of one understanding of the term. It argues that international law augers in favour of an understanding focused solely on complexity, because the legal principles applicable in mixed migration situations apply regardless of individual motivations. Including such motivations within the policy concept only serves to divorce 'mixed migration' from its legal underpinnings. Moreover, understanding 'mixed migration' in terms of varied individual motivations for moving might fuel populist anti-immigration sentiment. A complexity-focused understanding of mixed migration would enhance the concept's utility.

中文翻译：

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混合：国际法和“混合移民”的含义

难民和其他不同的移民人口经常一起旅行。出现了“混合移民”的政策概念来描述这种移民现象。但是，该术语有多种含义。这些可以分为两类：一方面是对移民流动复杂构成的理解；另一方面是考虑复杂性和个人移动动机的理解。正因为如此，“混合移民”对移民的思考和与移民有关的人道主义行动的贡献比其他方式少。本文描述了这些不同的理解，并利用了从难民法、人权法、人道主义法和跨国刑法中得出的相关法律原则，以及来自海洋法的支持对该术语的一种理解。它认为，国际法推崇仅关注复杂性的理解，因为适用于混合移民情况的法律原则适用于个人动机。将此类动机纳入政策概念只会将“混合移民”与其法律基础分开。此外，从不同的个人迁移动机来理解“混合移民”可能会助长民粹主义的反移民情绪。对混合迁移的以复杂性为中心的理解将增强该概念的实用性。因为无论个人动机如何，适用于混合移民情况的法律原则都适用。将此类动机纳入政策概念只会将“混合移民”与其法律基础分开。此外，从不同的个人迁移动机来理解“混合移民”可能会助长民粹主义的反移民情绪。对混合迁移的以复杂性为中心的理解将增强该概念的实用性。因为无论个人动机如何，适用于混合移民情况的法律原则都适用。将此类动机纳入政策概念只会将“混合移民”与其法律基础分开。此外，从不同的个人迁移动机来理解“混合移民”可能会助长民粹主义的反移民情绪。对混合迁移的以复杂性为中心的理解将增强该概念的实用性。