Center for Migration Studies

What Center for Migration Studies does

The Center for Migration Studies (CMS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institute and think tank founded in 1964 by the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians) and headquartered in New York City. CMS conducts research and policy analysis on international migration, refugee protection, and immigrant integration, and serves policymakers, scholars, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, civil society, and journalists. Its core program includes the Democratizing Data Initiative, which since 2013 has produced publicly accessible estimates of US undocumented and eligible-to-naturalize populations at national, state, and sub-state levels, alongside the data.cmsny.org interactive database covering more than 50 immigrant populations.

CMS publishes two peer-reviewed journals — the International Migration Review (IMR, via SAGE) and the open-access Journal on Migration and Human Security (JMHS) — and distributes additional research through reports, briefings, the weekly Migration Update newsletter, the CMSOnAir podcast, the CMS Migration Experts video series, and signature annual symposiums. Other products include the NYC Health Data Tool, BacklogPredictor3000, the CMS Archive (nearly 130 collections documenting immigrant experience from the mid-19th century to today), the Catholic Immigrant Integration Initiative (CIII), and the Catholic IMMpact program with Hope Border Institute.

CMS is funded through donations and charitable contributions, journal subscriptions distributed through SAGE, and newsletter subscriptions. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, participates in the IOM Research Partners Panel, and is a member of the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) and one of seven Scalabrini Migration Study Centers (SMSC).

Name

Center for Migration Studies

Legal name

Center for Migration Studies of New York Inc.

Website

https://cmsny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Migration Studies is a New York-based nonprofit think tank that produces research, data, and policy analysis on international migration, serving policymakers, scholars, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and journalists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Migration Policy Research and Analysis

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Access & Online Government Services for Immigrants (EDAAADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Migration policy research
• Immigration data analysis
• Peer-reviewed journals
• Nonprofit think tank
• Scholarly publications

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CMS relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations to fund operations and research activities.
2. Journal Subscriptions: The International Migration Review is published through SAGE Journals requiring institutional subscriptions for full access. Revenue generated through subscription fees for their leading peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
3. Newsletter Subscriptions: CMS Migration Update weekly newsletter distributed to subscribers. Policy updates available in Spanish and English.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CMS conducts original research on international migration and publishes it through two peer-reviewed journals (International Migration Review and Journal on Migration and Human Security), policy reports, and briefings. It maintains the data.cmsny.org online database with detailed estimates of US undocumented and eligible-to-naturalize populations at national, state, and sub-state levels, and operates interactive mapping tools (NYC Health Data Tool, BacklogPredictor3000). The institute also curates a nearly 130-collection archive documenting North American immigrant experience since the mid-19th century.

Product overview

The Center for Migration Studies (CMS) operates as a research institute and think tank focused on international migration, producing data, publications, and policy analysis through multiple interconnected products and services. Its core data offering centers on the data.cmsny.org database, which provides detailed estimates of US undocumented and naturalization-eligible populations. CMS publishes two peer-reviewed journals—the International Migration Review (IMR) and the Journal on Migration and Human Security (JMHS)—alongside research reports, data briefings, and policy analyses. The organization maintains interactive tools including the NYC Health Data Tool and BacklogPredictor3000 for immigration court analysis. Additional offerings include the CMSOnAir podcast, weekly Migration Update newsletter, the CMS Migration Experts video series, and the CMS Archive containing nearly 130 collections on immigrant history. CMS also runs two initiatives—the Democratizing Data Initiative providing population estimates and the Catholic Immigrant Integration Initiative (CIII)—plus the Catholic IMMpact program with Hope Border Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Migration Review (IMR): The leading interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal in the field of international migration, ethnic group relations, refugee movements, and immigrant integration, established in 1964
• Journal on Migration and Human Security (JMHS)
• Migration Update
• CMSOnAir
• Democratizing Data Initiative
• Catholic Immigrant Integration Initiative (CIII)

Products and services

• International Migration Review (IMR) A peer-reviewed scholarly journal in international migration, ethnic group relations, refugee movements, and immigrant integration. Published through SAGE Journals with institutional subscriptions. Targeted at scholars, researchers, and academic libraries worldwide.
• Journal on Migration and Human Security (JMHS) A peer-reviewed, open-access public policy journal combining person-centered research and public policy analysis on international migration under the rubric of human dignity, rights, and security. Published through SAGE Journals as an open-access title. Targeted at policymakers, scholars, and practitioners.
• data.cmsny.org Database An interactive online database providing detailed estimates and characteristics of US undocumented and naturalization-eligible immigrant populations at national, state, and sub-state levels. Allows users to conduct custom queries of immigrant population data. Targeted at scholars, policymakers, press, and community-based organizations.
• NYC Health Data Tool An interactive mapping tool for key determinants of immigrants' health in New York City. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, community organizations, and health service providers working on immigrant health in NYC.
• BacklogPredictor3000 An interactive tool assessing immigration court backlog and judge team hiring needs based on changed conditions and the need for broader reform. Targeted at immigration policy researchers, legal advocates, and government officials tracking immigration court operations.
• CMSOnAir Podcast Audio podcast featuring interviews with government officials, experts, and advocates on migration, refugee, and population issues. Available on Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Past guests include Senator Charles Schumer, former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, and Bishop Mark J. Seitz.
• Migration Update Newsletter A weekly digest of news, faith reflections, and analysis on international migration and refugee protection. Policy updates available in English and Spanish. Distributed via MailChimp. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, faith-based and community-based organizations, and the public.
• CMS Archive An archival research resource containing nearly 130 collections documenting the immigrant experience in North America from the mid-19th to 21st century, including Ellis Island agency records, refugee case files, papers of prominent Italian Americans, Catholic immigrant service institution records, and over 5,000 photographs. Targeted at historians, researchers, genealogists, and scholars.

Quantifiable outcome

• CMS data broadly used by scholars, researchers, students, press, government officials, policymakers, and CBOs of all kinds
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMS is a member of SIMN, a global network of migrant shelters, service centers, and other institutions active in 34 countries across North, Central, and South America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. CMS was founded by the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, Scalabrinians, who remain dedicated to serving migrants and refugees throughout the world.
• Scalabrini Migration Study Centers (SMSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMS is one of seven Scalabrini Migration Study Centers, a network of think tanks on international migration and refugee protection. CMS has collaborated with sister study centers on global policy reports and research on the future of work and international migration.
• International Organization on Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMS participates in IOM's Research Partners Panel, collaborating on migration research initiatives at the international level.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMS enjoys consultative status at the United Nations and regularly participates and intervenes in UN processes related to migration and refugee protection.
• Hope Border InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Border Institute partners with CMS on the Catholic Immigrant Prophetic Action Project (Catholic IMMpact), assisting the Catholic Church in organizing responses for migrants and refugees facing deportation through research, communications, and organizing support.
• International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMS collaborated with ICMC on research on the future of work and international migration, producing global policy reports through this partnership.
• University of Notre DameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Immigrant Integration Initiative (CIII) collaborated virtually with University of Notre Dame in October 2020, with representatives from 37 nations participating in the three-day event.
• Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm has hosted CMS annual academic and policy symposiums at their New York office, providing venue support for these signature events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Migration Policy Institute: MPI is the closest direct peer — a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that produces data, analysis, and policy recommendations on migration at the national and international levels. Like CMS, it publishes flagship reports and datasets on immigration populations and shapes U.S. policy debate.
• International Catholic Migration Commission: ICMC is a Catholic-affiliated international organization that, like CMS, produces research on migration and serves refugee and migrant populations. CMS and ICMC have co-authored global policy reports on the future of work and international migration.
• HIAS: HIAS is a Jewish-American refugee resettlement and advocacy organization with a strong research and policy arm. It is a faith-based peer that operates immigrant services and migration policy advocacy similar to CIII's scope inside CMS.
• Church World Service: CWS is a faith-based humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement and immigration services. It is a structural peer to CMS's CIII work in connecting faith institutions to immigrant-serving programs at scale.
• Refugees International: Refugees International is a nonprofit that advocates for displaced people through research, field reports, and policy advocacy. It is a direct peer in producing high-impact, short-form migration policy analysis directed at U.S. and global decision-makers.
• National Immigration Forum: The National Immigration Forum is a national advocacy organization that produces policy analysis and coordinates broad coalitions on immigration. It is a direct peer in shaping U.S. immigration policy through research and stakeholder convening.
• Hope Border Institute: Hope Border Institute is a Catholic-affiliated policy and research organization on the U.S.-Mexico border that co-leads the Catholic IMMpact program with CMS. It is a direct peer in faith-rooted immigration research and advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• International Organization for Migration: IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization on migration and a UN-related body. CMS holds consultative status and partners with IOM on research, making it the principal multilateral counterpart shaping the global migration policy agenda.
• International Rescue Committee: IRC is a major humanitarian aid organization serving refugees and displaced populations globally. While much larger than CMS, it overlaps in producing research and policy reports on refugee protection that compete for the same donor and policymaker attention.
• Pew Research Center: Pew's Hispanic Trends and demography programs produce widely cited quantitative work on U.S. immigration populations. Pew is a broad incumbent peer that competes with CMS on data-driven narratives around immigrant populations in the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/IMRjournal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLhrN9ueiBnPLSRFSO-EowwMozmD8q1eaO
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmsnewyork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Migration Studies