1. Migration and human rights Prof. Angelina Godoy

2. Types of migration Migrant flow has accelerated throughout Latin America in recent decades Within countries (rural-> urban) Within countries (rural-> urban) Intra-regional (country-> country) Intra-regional (country-> country) Emigration, esp. to USA Emigration, esp. to USA

3. Migration within countries Latin America’s urban population: 50% in 1960, 75% in 2000 (World Bank 2003) In raw numbers, 108 million to 389 million Causes Population growth-> deepening agrarian crisis Violence and political conflict (esp. Colombia) Transformation of rural economy “Modernization of agriculture” (transform subsistence agriculture into agroexport) “Modernization of agriculture” (transform subsistence agriculture into agroexport) Many peasant farmers unable to compete, give up land Many peasant farmers unable to compete, give up land “Free trade” policies eliminating ag. subsidies “Free trade” policies eliminating ag. subsidies

4. Migration within countries Consequences Latin America is the most urbanized region in the developing world Highest rates of urban poverty in world Esp. visible in slums outside cities (favelas, villas, asentamientos, arrabales) Often squatter settlements where residents don’t have legal title to property, may be forcibly evicted Often squatter settlements where residents don’t have legal title to property, may be forcibly evicted Inadequate public services Inadequate public services Often residents have hard time integrating into legal labor market-> crime, gang activity Often residents have hard time integrating into legal labor market-> crime, gang activity Social exclusion: large #s of people locked out of legal economy, education, opportunities -> new urban underclass Social exclusion: large #s of people locked out of legal economy, education, opportunities -> new urban underclass

5. Lila Downs, “Tránsito”/ “Transit” Bajo el negro manto del humo se abre una valle de la ansiedad Ya se distingue block y concreto La yerba santa y las cajas de Fab En este valle de asfalto y plomo Se come el chile, tortilla y sal Y en la laguna de Xochimilco yo me imagino un águila real Por la salida de Zaragoza, por esas casas de muro gris Entre los patios los tendederos La ropa nueva de este país Se va forjando con mano y obra Piedra con piedra la construcción De la provincia me traje un sueño A la laguna ciudad del sol Under a black veil of smoke the valley of anxiety opens Concrete blocks and cement The saintly herb, the detergent boxes In this valley of asphalt and lead Chile, tortilla, and salt to eat At Xochimilco lake I imagine a real eagle Down the Zaragoza exit, by the houses with grey walls Between the patios, the clotheslines, the country’s new clothes Being forged by hands and labor Stone on stone, this construction From the countryside I brought a dream To this big lake, the city of the sun

6. Diente con diente, sangre con sangre Valle de plomo, máquina errante Locos de asfalto Lluvia de polvo Truenos de la comisión del soborno Poco te asusta Poco te gusta Todo lo tragas Y todo lo culpas Piedra con piedra dato con dato ¿Cuál es el código de tu epitafio? Lloro a mi patria querida Por lo lejos que estoy de ella Con el alma entristecida También lloro por aquella Que por mí se anda perdida Y yo perdido por ella Tooth and tooth, blood with blood Valley of lead, mistaken machine Crazy with asphalt A shower of dust Thunderbolts from the Bribery Commission Little scares you Little pleases you You swallow it all You blame it all Stone with stone, data with data What is the bar code on your epitaph? I cry for my beloved homeland Because I am so far away With a saddened soul I also cry for her, the one who is lost because of me, And I lost for her

7. Entre las piedras de un lago muerto Se oye el sollozo de una ciudad Una colonia más que se extiende Otra familia sin sueldo ni hogar Pero la mata se sigue dando Cada uno lucha para ganar Todos gozamos la vida un rato Tránsito pasa que viene y ya. Diente con diente, sangre con sangre Nadie responde por estas calles En la distancia todos los cables Hacen un nido de sombras viajantes Y en las esquinas todos los muertos Las coladeras te roban los sueños Lluvia de llantos de los millones De sus encantos y frustraciones Lloro a mi patria querida… Between the stones of a dead lake The sobbing of a city is heard Another neighborhood extends itself Another family without a salary, without a home, But the plant keeps on growing Everyone struggles to get ahead We all enjoy life for awhile Transit passes, comes and goes. Tooth and tooth, blood with blood No one responds for these streets In the distance, the electric cables Make a nest of travelling shadows And at the corners all the dead The drains rob your dreams A rain of sorrows, the sorrows of millions A rain of their enchantments and of their frustrations I cry for my beloved homeland…

8. Migration between countries Internat’l migration doesn’t only affect USA, also countries that border poorer ones e.g., Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico e.g., Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico In all these cases, migration has an ethnic dimension and migrants are often subjected to racism, xenophobia, violence In all these cases, migration has an ethnic dimension and migrants are often subjected to racism, xenophobia, violence

9. Human rights of migrants UDHR and other docs specify states must guarantee to all (even noncitizens) certain rights: right to equality, basic civil rights, right to movement and residence, right to seek asylum, right to work, right to health UDHR and other docs specify states must guarantee to all (even noncitizens) certain rights: right to equality, basic civil rights, right to movement and residence, right to seek asylum, right to work, right to health In practice, states often ignore these rights, either de facto or de jure In practice, states often ignore these rights, either de facto or de jure This is particularly clear with noncitizens: right to work? Right to movement? This is particularly clear with noncitizens: right to work? Right to movement? International law for enforcing these is weak, contradicts domestic law in most states International law for enforcing these is weak, contradicts domestic law in most states

10. Refugee law Refugees enjoy special protections through 1951 Refugee Convention Refugee: a person who because of “well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country” Refugee: a person who because of “well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country” Who does this definition omit? Who does this definition omit? Definition (and the many laws based on it) derive from notion that civil and political rights so important that states must even protect citizens of other states when these violated. What about soc/econ rights? Definition (and the many laws based on it) derive from notion that civil and political rights so important that states must even protect citizens of other states when these violated. What about soc/econ rights? The majority of the world’s migrants are “economic refugees”: what would the world look like if the Refugee Convention applied to them? The majority of the world’s migrants are “economic refugees”: what would the world look like if the Refugee Convention applied to them?

11. Migration and human rights Weak international law for protection of migrants has been coupled with recent tightening of domestic migration law throughout the Americas Recent developments in USA Criminalization of unauthorized entry Criminalization of unauthorized entry Unauthorized migration has usually been controlled thru deportation, but now many states couple this with criminal sanctions Unauthorized migration has usually been controlled thru deportation, but now many states couple this with criminal sanctions In USA, this extended to permanent residents In USA, this extended to permanent residents Felony deportation Felony deportation AEDPA 1996 mandates deportation of permanent residents for commission of “aggravated felonies” (incl. shoplifting, writing a bad check, mutilating a passport) AEDPA 1996 mandates deportation of permanent residents for commission of “aggravated felonies” (incl. shoplifting, writing a bad check, mutilating a passport) Eliminates discretionary waivers of deportation (hardship) Eliminates discretionary waivers of deportation (hardship) Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1997 prohibits such deportees from ever legally returning to USA even to join family Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1997 prohibits such deportees from ever legally returning to USA even to join family

12. Migration and human rights US Congress in Sept 06 passed “immigration reform package” to build $2.5 billion border fence to build $2.5 billion border fence requires voters to show proof of citizenship to vote requires voters to show proof of citizenship to vote deputize state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws deputize state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws Voters have also approved anti-immigrant measures in many state elections Arizona’s Prop 200, passed in 2004, demands verification of identity to receive “public benefits” (vaguely defined), mandates reporting of illegal migrants to feds Arizona’s Prop 200, passed in 2004, demands verification of identity to receive “public benefits” (vaguely defined), mandates reporting of illegal migrants to feds