Introduction. The article examines some issues of migration policy in Russia, provides an analysis of the migration situation, and identifies the reasons influencing external migration. Attention is paid to the mechanisms of legal regulation of migration policy. Methods. In the course of the study, the results of which are presented in the article, the general scientific dialectical method of cognition of the surrounding reality was used, which involves a complete and comprehensive study of phenomena, consideration of the connections and contradictions between them. In addition, the methods of description, logical comprehension, abstraction and generalization were used. Results. The issues of regulating migration flows remain extremely relevant for the Russian Federation. Its labor market remains attractive not only for residents of various regions of the country, but also for representatives of near and far abroad. The migration situation is difficult, the solution of problems existing in this area requires comprehensive measures aimed at counteracting violations of migration legislation, including suppression of channels of illegal traffic of migrants. The responsibility for crimes committed in the area under consideration is being strengthened. Currently, the fight against illegal migration is one of the priority tasks of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. In order to effectively solve this problem and reduce the level of migration crime, it is necessary to identify foreigners whose actions pose a threat to national security; identify violators of migration legislation and promptly expel them from the country; monitor compliance with the law by legal entities hiring migrants; monitor visa migrants and persons who invited them; combat fictitious migration registration and illegal migration; improve the quality of information records of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia