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Dialogue between RCM member countries and some countries of origin of extra-continental irregular migration flows

Irregular extra-continental flows: What are their implications for origin,

transit and destination countries?

Mexico City, Mexico20 - 21 September 2012

Robert G. PaivaRegional Director for Central and North America and the CaribbeanInternational Organization for Migration

Contents

• Traditional migration in the region.• What has changed in recent years?• What does irregular extra-continental

migration represent for the region?• What does extra-continental migration

look like in the region?• Main challenges in providing protection

and assistance to extra-continental migrants

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Traditional migration in the region

• Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest proportion of emigrants to total population.

• 5.1% of LAC population live abroad and only 1.9% of LAC population are immigrants: this is also the region with the largest net emigration.

• During the last 60 years, CA and Mexico have been the LAC sub-region sending the largest amount of emigrants and receiving the fewest immigrants (essentially from other LAC countries).

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What has changed in recent years?

• World economic crisis has impacted the developed world – in particular Europe (one of the most important destinations for African and Asian migrants).

• Political and social conflicts in Africa and Asia have produced major migration movements.

• More restrictive immigration policies in most major destination countries.

• Globalization and diversification of criminal transnational networks which have included human trafficking and migrant smuggling among their activities.

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• CA and Mexico have not received significant immigration flows from Africa or Asia since the early 20th century.

• Since 2003 there has been a significant increase of migration coming from Africa and Asia, in terms of entry, transit and irregular stay in the region.

• Most of these migrants are moving northwards irregularly through South America, CA and Mexico; some are staying irregularly for varying periods.

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What has changed in recent years?

What does irregular extra-continental

migration represent for the region?

• Although not unknown, extra-continental migration has grown significantly and diversified.

• Challenges are not proportional to their number.

• Language and culture make these migrants more vulnerable.

• Lack of support social networks in countries of entry and transit makes them more vulnerable.

• Latent xenophobia is a major concern.• Countries of origin usually lack consular

representation.

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What does extra-continental migration look like in the

region?

•Asian flows considerably larger than African.•African flows include fewer women and children than Asian ones.•African migrants more likely to become stranded (no local support networks) and forced to stay indefinitely (unable to continue their journey).•These migrants often arrive in larger groups and continue their journey in smaller groups.

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Some examples of routes of irregular extra-

continental migration flows to and through the

region

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What does extra-continental migration

look like in the region?

Route Moscow – Havana .

EAST AFRICA – RUSSIA – CUBA – PANAMA – ECUADOR – COLOMBIA - MESOAMERICA

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Route Tel Aviv – Quito .

EAST AFRICA – DUBAI – TEL AVIV – ECUADOR – COLOMBIA - MESOAMERICA

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Route South Asia - Dubai – South America .

RNEPAL – INDIA – DUBAI – BRAZIL – COLOMBIA – SAN ANDRES – MESOAMERICA

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Route Amsterdam – Ecuador .

RCHINA – HOLLAND – ECUADOR - COLOMBIA

According to available data, countries in the continent can be classified in:

1.Entry countries in LAC (e.g. Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba, Panama and Guatemala). 2.Main countries of transit (almost all Mesoamerican countries and Colombia).3.Main destination countries (USA, Canada and to a lesser extent Brazil and Argentina).

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How does extra-continental migration show in the region?

•Extracontinental migrants usually (but not always) use same routes and smugglers as regional migrants.•In most countries of transit, there is a separate fee to be paid to the smugglers.•Migrants get in debt throughout their journey and in some cases, continue paying their debt in destination countries (fees vary between US$6,000 and US$45,000).•Evidence of xenophobia and racism in some communities of LAC countries, in particular against Africans.

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What does extra-continental migration look like in the

region?

Main challenges

•Available data is limited and in different formats, making comparative and historical analysis difficult.•Limited contact and cooperation between countries of the region and countries of origin.•Assesment of nationality, age, personal situation and protection and assistance needs extremely difficult.•Unfamiliar culture and language complicates communication, provision of protection and assistance.•Identification of smugglers and traffickers has proven extremely difficult.

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Main challenges: open questions

•How can countries of the region better communicate with migrants in order to more effectively assess their assistance and protection needs?•How can countries of origin, transit and destination better cooperate in order to provide protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants such as unaccompanied children?•How can countries of origin and destination better cooperate in order to assess the nationality of these migrants?•What more can be done to facilitate voluntary return?•How can smugglers and traffickers be more effectively identified and combatted?

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