When there are powerful push factors in sending countries or pull factors in receiving countries, restrictive measures alone cannot contain migratory flows - they are simply diverted to irregular channels. This book provides an analysis of irregular migration in its different aspects and dimensions: its nature, characteristics and magnitude; its causes, conditions and consequences and the inadequacies of existing policy measures. Against the backdrop of this analysis, the last chapter puts forward a set of specific proposals which can be woven into a comprehensive strategy to combat irregular migration.