Module 1: Reasons for Migration
Lesson Objectives
Trainees will be able to:
Identify the various push factors that force people to leave their homes for “economic” reasons.
Recognize the ways in which political instability and violence create uninhabitable living conditions that necessitate migration.
Introduction
In recent years, the evolving conditions in Latin American countries has led to a smaller percentage of migrants solely seeking economic opportunities and a greater number of individuals fleeing authoritarian governments, targeted or generalized violence, poverty worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, discrimination, U.S. sanctions and embargoes, gender-based violence, and the impacts of climate change. For most countries and even for most individuals, no single factor drives migration. That said, this lesson explores some of the persistent push factors that seem to remain relevant across time, distance, context, and country.
Economic Factors
“Economic factors” for migration refers to a variety of difficulties that encourage people to migrate. Perhaps most notably, the need for work and to make a living drives those from the poorest countries in the region to migrate. Economic conditions, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected GPD in every country and left millions of people unable to sustain even the barest quality of life. Better work opportunities and higher pay in another country allows migrants to send money and remittances back home to support their families in ways that are very difficult if not sometimes impossible to do in their home country.
“La mayoría de la gente piensa que la gente migra por el “sueño americano”, que la gente viene por ser Americano, pero, no, es por las situaciones financieras en nuestros países. Migramos para mejorar nuestra situación económica, para ayudar a la familia que vive allá, no pa’ ser Americano.”
“Most people think that people migrate for the “American dream,” that people come to be American, but, no, it is because of the financial situations in our countries. We migrate to improve our economic situation, to help the family that lives there, not to be American.”
Deisy
Economic turmoil in multiple Latin American countries has increased the pervasiveness of poverty and homelessness. Food insecurity is a leading indicator of economic instability. As a result, malnutrition and hunger as a result of extreme poverty leave many adults, particularly parents, to suffer under a persistent threat of being unable to provide for their family. This is especially the case in Central America, where the impacts of climate change induce instability and motivate migration. Environmental crises, such as hurricanes, have fueled food insecurity already impacted by general poverty.
In 2022, 247.8 million people in the region experienced moderate or severe food insecurity:
“Emigramos por que en el país ya no teníamos los mismos beneficios para los niños ni para uno se tenerse para la comida, me entiende, porque no tenía un trabajo. El sueldo que nos daban no alcanza para tu un tan sustente comida todo los días para la casa, todo es muy caro y el sueldo es muy bajito,”
“We emigrated because in our country we no longer had the same benefits for children or for food, because I didn't have a job. The salary they gave us is not enough for such a substantial meal every day for the house, everything is very expensive and the salary is very low,”
Listen to Eriko
In addition to, and in part because of, this economic context, some people lack the opportunity to access an education. Quality education is often considered an essential, if not necessary, asset to creating a “better life” for oneself and family. Consequently, the inability to obtain an education for oneself or children, whether for lack of financial resources or otherwise, is another persistent push factor.
“Lo más importante era el futuro y estudios de mis hijos. Tengo 6 hijos, vine con 5 y tenía uno más aquí. A raíz de la pandemia de COVID, la mayoría de los profesores se emigraban del país. Se estaban moviendo para obtener mejores sueldos.”
“The most important thing was my children's future and studies. I have 6 children, I came with 5 and I had one more here. As a result of the COVID pandemic, most teachers were emigrating from the country. “They were moving to get better salaries.”
Deisy
“Bueno, la descripción de esa foto es en el futuro, tener mi casa, mi cosas, mi comodidad, como se ve ahí pues. Para mi, para mis hijos, pero en mi país, trabajando acá, en un país desconocido, este, donde me está brindando bastante oportunidades y bueno trabajar aquí y lograr todo eso pero allí en mi país pues en el futuro para mis hijos, para mi y mi familia. Entonces, esa será la descripción de esta foto.”
“Well, the description of this photo is a future in which I have my house, my things, my comfort, as you can see in this photo, for me, for my children... but in my country, working here, in an unknown country, that is giving me a lot of opportunities, working here and achieving all that but there in my country, in the future for my children, for me and my family. So, that’s the description of this photo.”
Listen to Deisy
Political Violence and Instability
Historical patterns of political instability among Latin American governments has resulted in rampant corruption and a tenacious threat to democratic freedoms. Corruption leads the region of Latin America and the Caribbean to lose over 5% of its GDP (around $13 billion) every year. For the everyday citizen, corruption can mean being forced to pay bribes in exchange for social services, education, or resources. Moreover, the political instability that curates this environment may implicate individual civilians for being a part of a particular political affiliation. To escape this extortion and risk of being targeted, some people choose to leave their country.
Why did you migrate?
“Primero por la falta de oportunidades laborales, por bastante tema de inseguridad, y porque siempre uno espera un mejor futuro.”
“Firstly, because of the lack of job opportunities, because of a lot of insecurity, and because one always hopes for a better future.”
Listen to Beatriz
“Yo migré, pues por lo mismo, siempre pues la inseguridad que uno vive, la falta de uno sentirse caminar libremente entonces pues eso lo hace a uno migrar, no? Algunos no quiere, no le quisiera migrar de su país porque uno siente que es su país, bien, pero le toca. No temer a su vida es más importante en esto es la vida. Siento que uno ya cierre los ojos ya solo queda la historia.”
“I migrated, well, for the same reason, the insecurity that one always experiences, the feeling that you can’t walk freely, that makes you migrate, right? Some people don't want to, they wouldn't want to migrate from their country because one feels that it is their country, fine, but it's up to them. Not fearing for your life is the most important in this is life. I feel like you close your eyes and only the story remains.”
Listen to Santiago
Why did you migrate?
“Para darle un mejor futuro a mis hijos pues porque en nuestro país estaba ocurriendo riesgos”
“To give a better future to my children because risks were occurring in our country”
Listen to Marisol
As a by-product of political instability, many parts of Latin America face chronic violence with multiple countries in the region consistently ranked amongst the the most violent in world. Destructive civil wars, historical political instability, and Western interventions have created ripe conditions for the cultivation of armed conflict, organized crime, and gangs. Violence as a result of narco-related organized crime that sky-rocked due to pandemic-era economic turmoil is a major reason people have decided to migrate.
Homicide Rates in Central America & Mexico
With these developments, women and girls have become targets of gender-based violence, which has only worsened among the pandemic. Most countries have struggled to form a coherent response to the violence, resulting in high-level security concerns as prison revolts and crime-boss escapes become more commonplace.
In 2022, at Least 4,050 Women Were Victims of Femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean
“Nuestro país, es una maravilla, la gente queda encantada. Pero ya vivir constantemente, o sea, de unos años para acá hay cierta inseguridad porque, se han formado grupos. ya entienden? Entonces eso ha perturbado la, como la tranquilidad de ese país. Pero el que va, iba de vacaciones, iba a las playas, iba a eso, queda fascinado. Es un país que tiene todo para la gente vivir allá. Lo que está ahora afectando es el tema de la inseguridad.”
“Our country is wonderful, and people are delighted by it. But living constantly, or, for a few years now, there is a certain insecurity because groups have been formed, you know? So that has disturbed the tranquility of the country. But whoever goes there, went on vacation there, went to the beaches there, went to this and that, is fascinated, It is a country that has everything for people to live there. What is affecting us now is the issue of insecurity.
Listen to Beatriz
How would you describe your origin country?
“Como un país alegre, mucho folcloro, mucha diversidad y un país muy lindo, muy hermoso, pues que les puedo decir más, pues una gente muy acogedora muy amable, si me entiende. Pero lo contrario, lo defectuoso es que se violan mucho los derechos humanos, eso tengo para decir.”
“Like a happy country, a lot of folklore, a lot of diversity and a very nice, very beautiful country, well, what can I tell you more, because very welcoming, very friendly people, if you understand what I mean. But on the contrary, what is defective is that human rights are violated a lot, that is what I have to say.”
Listen to Santiago
“Yo ya metido asilo y no tengo planes para regresar a mi país”
“I have already submitted my asylum application and I have no plans to return to my country”
Listen to Marisol
Reflection Questions:
How are the persistent push factors discussed in his lesson related to the historical processes of colonialism and imperialism?
What preconceived notions did you have about the reasons people migrate? What did you learn in this lesson that surprised you?