The world is arguing about migration. Here's where Australia fits

Australia has unveiled a major shake-up of its migration system, targeting visa-hoppers, overstayers, international students and backpackers as the federal government seeks to bring migration down further.

The changes come as governments in several other major migrant destinations — including Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe — also tighten parts of their immigration systems.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the reforms on Thursday, which include restrictions on international students bringing family members, new rules aimed at preventing "visa hopping", and caps on working holidaymakers seeking to extend their stays.

The government is also strengthening enforcement against visa overstayers and migration agents who lodge applications without merit, while changing the skilled migration system to prioritise workers in areas including healthcare, construction and education.

The government wants to bring net overseas migration down from 292,100 to 245,000 in the year to July 2027, and to 225,000 each year thereafter.

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

The changes include caps on working holidaymakers extending their stays, with 45,000 second-year places and just 5,000 third-year places — down from 57,000 and 31,000 respectively.

There will also be a crackdown on the 77,000 people who are believed to be overstaying their visas: they will face tougher enforcement, including detention.

So, how does Australia's approach compare with migration changes elsewhere in the world?

The United States has pursued what US President Donald Trump has promised to be the "largest domestic deportation" operation in US history, built on aggressive enforcement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been tasked with that crackdown after its annual budget more than tripled, with heavily armed agents facing worldwide backlash for aggressive tactics, including the fatal shootings of two US citizens this year in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security says the Trump administration has deported more than 605,000 "illegal aliens", with a further 1.9 million "self-deporting".

Trump has also focused on border security, particularly in the south, primarily targeting Mexican migrants and those crossing the border illegally — as well as the construction of the continued and expanded construction of the Mexico-United States border wall.

He has also worked to restrict the entry of foreigners who do follow the rules and has gone after those who overstay their visas after they expire.