Colegio de la Frontera NorteApril 21-23, 2010

Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

XV Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) Regional Seminar on Migration and Family

Youth Deported from the United States to Guatemala:

Vulnerabilities from a Perspective of Human Security

Dr. Jacobo DardónResearcher

Data from the qualitative study (interviews held in 2009-10) about human security

Interviews to deported persons at the airport: 50 interviews Interviews to deported persons in their communities: 10 life stories Interviews to Central American migrants in Guatemala: 10 interviews

Data of persons deported from the United States to Guatemala: II Semester 2004 EMIFGUAMEX: 794 interviews II Semester 2008 EMIFSUR: 1,158 interviews

And data from the General Directorate of Immigration of Guatemala 2004-2009.

Contents of the Presentation:

• Conceptual framework on human security with a focus on risk during migration• Results• Conclusions and recommendations

Data:

HUMAN SECURITY (UNDP, 1994)

• Freedom from fear • Freedom from want

• A universal matter.• Its components are interdependent.• The simplest way to ensure it is through prevention, rather than through intervention.• Focuses on persons and how they live in society, exercise their multiple choices, access the market and social opportunities, and live in an environment of conflict or in peace.

Sabina Alkire (2004)

Threats to Human Security:

1. Economic: Considers the need for minimum income, as well as unemployment (especially among youth), precarious work, increasing poverty, and economic crises.

2. Food: Recognizing that the problem does not lie in the lack of food, the report underscores the poor distribution of food.

3. Health: Reflects the existence of insecure areas with no access to drinking water in a relevant

manner. In industrialized countries the emphasis is on traffic accidents and cancer.

4. Environmental: Considers the degradation processes of local and global ecosystems.

5. Personal: Considers security in view of physical violence, either from the State (torture), from other States (war), from other groups of persons (ethnic or community tensions), from other individuals (street violence and crime), or oriented toward women (rape, domestic violence), children (abuse), or against oneself (suicide, drug addiction).

6. Community: Based on the role of family, organizations, and ethnic and racial groups in regard to security. In addition, inter-ethnic fights and actions relating to situations of ethnic cleansing.

7. Political: Considers basic human rights of citizens of a State and factors which hinder compliance with rights (political repression by the State, systematic torture, missing persons, etc.)

Sabina Alkire (2004)

Risk: Threat x Vulnerability

Risk is a contingency or proximity of harm to migrants or migration flows (understood as moving populations)

Threat is the probability of the occurrence of a harmful event, the event being external to the migrant or migration flow. It can be natural (hurricane, earthquake, etc.), anthropogenic (caused by humans) a spill of a toxic substance, or a crime. Structural, when historic conditions of lack of governance exist relating to sustained conditions of exclusion, discrimination, and poverty of wide population strata.

Crime is a type of anthropogenic threat which relates, in its most direct form, causing harm to life (homicide), physical integrity (aggression, rape, kidnapping –extortion- and trafficking in persons) or property (theft, robbery, fraud, bribe, subornation).

Vulnerability refers to the conditions of migrants or migration flows which expose individuals or

flows to threats. Therefore, it is an inherent condition to migrants or migration flows.

Héctor Rosada-Granados (2008); PNUD (2009).

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004-2009

BY AGE GROUP AND GENDER

YEARADULTS UNDER-AGE

TOTALMEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

2004 6,424 418 161 26 7,0292005 9,943 1,177 331 61 11,5122006 14,645 2,654 883 123 18,3052007 19,107 2,853 944 158 23,0622008 24,213 2,968 763 107 28,0512009 23,831 2,825 500 66 27,222

2004-2009 98,163 12,895 3,582 541 115,181% TOTAL 85.2 11.2 3.1 0.5 100.0

% TOTAL BY GENDER 88.3 11.7 100.0

% TOTAL M-M 96.4 3.6 100.0SOURCE: General Directorate of Immigration of Guatemala

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004-2008

TOTAL BY GENDER AND AGE COMPOSITION

2004-2008ADULTS UNDER-AGE

TOTALMEN WOMEN MEN WOMENII SEMESTER 2004 3131 188 70 9 3398% M-M 92.1 5.5 2.1 0.3 100.0II SEMESTER 2008 13265 1725 433 67 15490% M-M 85.6 11.1 2.8 0.4 100.02004 6424 418 161 26 7029% M-M 91.4 5.9 2.3 0.4 100.02008 24213 2968 763 107 28051% M-M 86.3 10.6 2.7 0.4 100.0% TOTAL GENDER 2004 93.7 6.3 100.0% TOTAL GENDER 2008 89.0 10.1 100.0% TOTAL M-M 2008 97.3 2.7 100.0% TOTAL M-M 2005 96.9 3.1 100.0SOURCE: General Directorate of Immigration of Guatemala

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of Age, % of the Total Number

YEAR % of Total No. Men Women

2004 58.1 87.3 12.7

2008 68.6 89.4 10.6

Difference +10.5 +2.1 -2.1Source: Emifguamex 2004/Emifsur 2008

A significant increase in the percentage of young persons between the ages of 18 - 30 years, out of the total number.

The number of women decreased, compared with 2004.

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of AgeAge Group and Place of Detention, %

2004 Work Home Street or Road

Crossing a River or Border

Airport Other (Specify) Total

18 - 24 years 3.0 4.9 26.3 15.8 0.4 6.4 56.825 - 30 years 4.5 3.8 18.8 11.7 0.8 3.8 43.2Total 7.5 8.6 45.1 27.4 1.1 10.2 100.0

2008 Work Home Street or Road

Crossing a River or Border

Airport Other (Specify) Total

18 - 24 years 5.3 2.4 14.2 20.2 10.5 4.3 56.825 - 30 years 5.3 4.0 9.8 13.9 7.8 2.4 43.2Total 10.6 6.4 24.1 34.0 18.3 6.7 100.0

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of Age Place of Detention and Length of Stay

2004 LENGTH OF STAY

PLACE OF DETENTION Less than a Month More than 2 Years TOTALCrossing the border or river 72 0 72

Arrested on US territory 30 72 102Total 102 72 174

% 58.6 41.4 1002008 LENGTH OF STAY

PLACE OF DETENTION Less than a Month More than 2 YearsCrossing the border or river 145 0 145

Arrested on US territory 167 362 529Total 312 362 674

% 46.3 53.7 100Source: Emifguamex 2004/Emifsur 2008

An increase in the number of persons arrested while crossing the border. More detentions on US territory of persons with a short stay. A significant increase in detentions of persons with longer stays.

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of AgeCOMPARING GROUPS: Age Group and Length of Stay, %

2004Age Group Less than a Month More than 2 y. Total

18 - 24 years 59.8 48.6 55.225 - 30 years 40.2 51.4 44.8Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

2008Age Group Less than a Month More than 2 y. Total

18 - 24 years 63.1 47.2 54.625 - 30 years 36.9 52.8 45.4Total 100.0 100.0 100.0Source: Emifguamex 2004/Emifsur 2008

An increase in the number of persons who stayed less than a month. The trend remains similar for persons who stayed more than 2 years.

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of AgeAge Group, Heads of Families, and Length of Stay

2004 Head of Fam. Less than a month More than 2 y. Total18 - 24 years Yes 31.1 37.1 33.3

No 68.9 62.9 66.7Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

25 - 30 years Yes 85.4 75.7 80.8No 14.6 24.3 19.2

Total 100.0 100.0 100.02008 Head of Fam. Less than a month More than 2 y. Total

18 - 24 years Yes 23.9 14.6 19.6No 76.1 85.4 80.4

Total 100.0 100.0 100.025 - 30 years Yes 61.7 61.3 61.4

No 38.3 38.7 38.6Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

Source: Emifguamex 2004/Emifsur 2008

Regarding persons who stayed less than a month, the trend is a decrease in the group of young heads of family. Regarding persons who stayed more than 2 years, the trend is similar.

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATESPERIODO 2004/200818 - 30 Years of Age

Age Group, Reading and Writing, and Length of Stay

2004Reads and

Writes Less than a Month More than 2 Years Total

18 - 24 years Yes 88.5 91.4 89.6No 11.5 8.6 10.4

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

25 - 30 years Yes 82.9 91.9 87.2No 17.1 8.1 12.8

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

2008Reads and

Writes Less than a Month More than 2 Years Total

18 - 24 years Yes 89.8 88.3 89.1No 10.2 11.7 10.9

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

25 - 30 years Yes 91.3 90.1 90.5No 8.7 9.9 9.5

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0Source: Emifguamex 2004/Emifsur 2008

For persons who stayed less than a month, young adults tend to improve their reading and writing skills. This is associated to better economic strata.

GUATEMALAN CITIZENS DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES2004/2008

18 - 30 Years of AgeAge Group, Place of Residence, and Length of Stay

2004 Place of ResidenceLess than a

MonthMore than 2

Years Total

18 - 24 years Guatemala 100.0 51.4 82.3USA 0.0 48.6 17.7Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

25 - 30 years Guatemala 100.0 62.2 82.1USA 0.0 37.8 17.9Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

2008 Place of ResidenceLess than a

MonthMore than 2

Years Total

18 - 24 years Guatemala 100 95.9 98.1USA 0 4.1 1.9Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

25 - 30 years Guatemala 100 94.8 96.7USA 0 4.7 2.9

Mexico 0 0.5 0.3Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

For persons who stayed more than 2 years, a significant decrease exists in the place of residence – USA, for both age groups.

Movements in Territories:

Threats in 2004

NaturalStructural and Anthropogenic

Crimes

GuatemalaFloods, draughts, earthquakes

Marginalization, poverty, exclusion

MexicoFloods, draughts, earthquakes Physical

Along the BorderNatural barriers, desert

Physical barriers

Return to Guatemala

Floods, draughts, earthquakes

Marginalization, poverty, exclusion.Increase of local living costs.

Movements in Territories:

Threats in 2008

NaturalStructural and Anthropogenic

Crimes

Guatemala

Floods, draughts, earthquakes

Marginalization, poverty, exclusion.Increase of local living costs.

MéxicoFloods, draughts, earthquakes

LifePhysicalProperty

Along the BorderNatural barriers, desert

A significant increase of physical barriers

LifePhysical

Return to Guatemala

Floods, draughts, earthquakes

Marginalization, poverty, exclusion.Increase of local living costs.

Property

Vulnerabilities 2004

Psycho-Social EnvironmentalEconomicFinancial

Social Institutional

Low education level.Family pressure and decision. Head of family. Woman. Traveling without identity documents.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.

Lack of formal employment. Low wages.

Absence of education and health services.

Information

Fear, learned inhibition, loss of values.

Marginal areas with little or no access to services.

Informal employment or working to be paid with food.

Absence of health services.

Lack of control over authorities

Voluntary exposure. Traveling alone.Fear, regret, existential crisis.

River, with little or no access to services.

Without a Coyote. Absence of health services.

Lack of control over authorities

Low education level.Family pressure and decision. Head of family. Woman. Post-deportation trauma, depression, frustration.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.

Absence of education and health services.

Vulnerabilities 2008

Psycho-Social EnvironmentalEconomicFinancial

Social Institutional

Low education level.Family pressure and decision. Head of family. Woman. Traveling without identity documents.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.

Lack of formal employment. Low wages. High interest rates, non-formal credit.

Absence of education and health services.

Information

Fear, learned inhibition, loss of values.

Marginal areas with little or no access to services.

Informal employment or working to be paid with food.

Absence of health services.

Lack of control over authorities

Voluntary exposure. Traveling alone.Fear, regret, existential crisis.

Desert, river, with little or no access to services.

No Coyote,Bait for Coyotes (2 - 3 attempts).

Absence of health services.Xenophobia

Lack of control over authorities

Low education level.Family pressure and decision. Head of family. Woman. Post-deportation trauma, depression, frustration.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.

Livelihood production areas, neighborhoods with no access to services.Debt with no possibilities to be paid.

Absence of education and health services.

Absence of public policy

Conclusions:

Trends in 2004-2008:

1. Significant changes in the total number of deported persons, with a mode in 2008. In addition, an increase in participation of young people between the ages of 18 - 30 years (two thirds).2. A change regarding gender: A general trend to increase deportation of women; regarding the age group, a trend to deport more men than women. 3. An increase in detentions of persons while crossing the river or border. The increase of detentions at the workplace and at the airport is noteworthy.4. A significant increase in detentions on US territory.5. A significant increase in detentions of persons who stayed for less than a month.

6. A hypothetical increase in the trend of migration of young adults with a higher socio-economic level.

7. Hypothetically, persons in irregular situations living in the US have intensified legal actions to protect themselves.

8. Relevant threats include: The crisis, threat to life and to property.

9. Relevant vulnerabilities include: Economic impacts and absence of public policy for post-deportation problems. Loss of property.

10. Structural conditions of origin (threats and vulnerabilities), the trend to intensify family strategies in families (González de la Rocha, 2006), institutional and social networks, relative deprivation or the American Dream apprehended from the success of migration, and trans-national families will continue driving international migration, despite growing risk and increasing control and restriction actions.

Youth, Risk, and Human Security:

Deported young persons are more afraid and have more needs

than before migrating…(hyper-vulnerability in hopelessness)

The Era of WrathGuayasamin, 1964-1990

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING A MIGRATION POLICY FOR THEREGIONAL CONFERENCE ON MIGRATION

•To include the topic of returned migrants in the policy agenda (development and migration), and not only the administrative process.

•To provide programs for support, self-esteem building, and assistance to address post-traumatic stress, particularly for young deported women.

•To carry out assessments and to monitor the reception and reintegration process of unaccompanied deported boys, girls, and adolescents.

•To promote programs for compensation of debts and protection of mortgages.

•To promote programs to advise deported persons who are residents in the country of destination and to manage the return (Best Interest of the Child and Family Reunification).

•The rapid changes in the profile and dynamics of migration flows require an ongoing process of reviewing and updating decisions and definitions relating to migration policies.

Bibliography:

Alkire, Sabina (2004) cited by Morillas Bassedas, Pol (2006). Conceptos y evolución de la expresión de la seguridad humana. In: Seguridad humana: conceptos, experiencias y propuestas. REVISTA CIDOB D’AFERS INTERNACIONALS. No. 76. Pp: 47-58

González de la Rocha, Mercedes, Coord. (2006). Procesos domésticos y vulnerabilidad: Perspectivas antropológicas de los hogares con Oportunidades. Publicaciones la Casa Chata. Mexico. Pp: 480

Rosada-Granados, Héctor (2008). La prevención del delito en el Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica. Central American Forum, November 17 – 18, 2008. Antigua Guatemala. UNDP, EU, PAIRCA, SICA. Guatemala. Pp: 73

UNDP (2009). Abrir espacios a la seguridad ciudadana y el desarrollo humano. Human Development Report for Central America 2009-2010. UNDP, AECI, EU, PAIRCA, SICA. Colombia. Pp: 474