Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) https://grfdt.com/, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) https://mfasia.org/, and Center for Research on North America (CISAN) http://www.cisan.unam.mx/ organized the International Conference (November 2- 5, 2020) where session in Spanish language was chaired by Prof. Adjani Tovar on November 3, 2020. Some of the crucial inputs from the presented research papers have been mentioned in the report.
Attention strategies to internal forced displacement in Mexico. Political Lesson Transfers from the Colombian Case.
Prof. Diego Pantaleon Ramos
In this lecture, Prof. Diego Pantaleon pointed the importance of transfer public policies as a strategy to face migration problems, and to take the experience of other places. In this case, it refers to internally displaced persons, who are defined as: “Any person or group of people who have been forced to flee from their place of origin due to generalized violence, armed conflict, violation of human rights or natural or man-made catastrophes that have not crossed an internationally recognized state border”(Acnur, 1999).
In Mexico alone, the number of internally displaced persons due to violence is between 315 thousand and 1.1 million people in 2017(CONAPO and UNFPA-MX, 2019). However, there is a gap in information and lack of recognition of displaced in the country. That is why there is an opportunity for new law and public policies to address this current problem. Thus, the transfer of public policies represents an opportunity to collaborate in the construction of solutions to social problems that many countries share.
Therefore, this transfer of policies is a process in which knowledge about policies, arrangements and ideas in a political environment are used for the development of public policy, it is possible to make a comparison of how these problems have been treated in other places to see the teachings and possible solutions.
Discrimination against essential Latino workers during the COVID19 crisis in the United States. An intersectional analysis.
Dr. Alejandro Mosqueda
According to Dr. Alejandro Mosqueda’s, it is possible to analyze discrimination against essential Latino migrant workers in the United States, during the current COVID-19 crisis. These workers have worked in priority services and operations to continue the operation of critical infrastructure: care, agriculture, food production, grocery stores, hardware, mechanics, workers, electricians, transportation, etc.
There are 19.8 million immigrant workers who are employed in the essential infrastructure in the United States, therefore, it is essential to analyze the current situation since they face new labor inequities, for example; not being able to work from home, increased risk of contagion, not using the necessary equipment or losing their jobs.
This health crisis has made clear the fragility of this oppressed group, since at least in California they represent 40% of the population, but 53% of COVID-19 cases. Similarly, other states with a high presence of Latinos handle a high number of infections and deaths within this sector of the population.
Therefore, Latino workers have not only been discriminated against but also made invisible during this pandemic, a fact that confirms the structural and historical oppressions towards this group in American society. The speaker also explained the cycle of oppression according to Robin Di Angelo, who describes a series of policies, practices, traditions, norms, cultural stories, and explanations that work to systematically maintain one social group for the benefit of another group.
Finally, Dr. Alejandro Mosqueda recognizes the essential role of immigrant workers not only during the pandemic, but the role they play in the economic stability of the United States.
The Role of Cities in Soft Law and International Migration Governance: Migratory Paradiplomacy in the Global Compacts for Migration.
Dr. Adriana S. Ortega &Prog. Luis Alonso De Ita
During this presentation, it was possible to hear an analysis of the importance of cities in the 2030 Agenda, for example, they are key actors for essential workers who do not have services and cannot access them. Therefore, the exhibitors make an account of the responsibilities of local governments in the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees; among which are sustainable development, legal aid, provision of local services, access to labor markets, cooperation with national authorities, humanitarian assistance, integration, and peaceful coexistence in communities.
Thus, the need for an approach in which the entire government and society intervene is recognized, cooperation and immigrant integration in local and national levels is essential, as well as collaboration between both levels. On the other hand, agreements are required between cities that send migrants, transit cities, and receiving cities, since they are essential for humanitarian aid.
For this reason, in 2018 the Global Forum on Migration and Development was held in which national and local governments exchanged challenges, and the relationship and interaction of this forum with local authorities was formalized. Likewise, it seeks to develop local structures, networks between cities and local governments as global actors. Finally, the speakers end by mentioning that Mexico had a leading participation in the Global Migration Pact and the great challenge that local governments have when incorporating strategies to implement said Pact.
Indigenous Diasporas: Otomi Women in the United States.
Prof. Ambar Itzel Paz Escalante.
In the research carried out by Prof. Ambar Paz, the Otomí feminine network that have moved to Mexico City and the United States were presented. For this, a multilocal ethnography was carried out in order to identify the phases of said migration.
As a result, 3 phases are identified; the first from 1930 to 1990, where women went to work as domestic servants in Mexico City, where they were victims of violence and discrimination by employers.
In a second phase, starting in 1990, they headed to South Texas, to cities like McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo. Later, they arrived in the north of the state with the help of their male relatives, thus creating an Otomí migrant community. As a third phase, they moved to the state of Florida. Since then, a series of transnational relationships have been created with Texas and Florida, through a correspondence in the exchange of products.
Finally, it was mentioned that there are series of small entrepreneurs that are transnationally organized to send products to Texas such as crafts, gifts, food and letters. On the other hand, from Texas to Hidalgo, not only remittances are sent, but also shoes, clothes, toys, televisions, cell phones, among others.
Environmentally induced migration: emergencies and industrial disasters in Latin America.
Sandra Elizabeth Álvarez Orozco
In this presentation, three important points were discussed: forced migration due to a chemical disaster; a sketch of the disasters in Latin America; and the need to press for dialogue with the competent authorities so that the problem can be made visible and action taken.
Migration for environmental reasons is not recognized, nor statistics recorded on this issue, despite the existence of many displaced not only internally, but also transnationally. Also, international governance includes legislation that will strengthen the security of States, not for individuals. When we speak of forced migration for environmental reasons or due to a chemical disaster, the possibility of asylum is not considered in treaties.
When we speak of environmental disaster, we are talking about damage to the environment in general that affects daily activities, such as; serious environmental pollution, nuclear discharges or explosives. In the face of this, the countries that have the first place in this type of disaster are the United States, Japan and Germany; in Latin America, Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela top the list. In Mexico, the responsible is Pemex and there are not the real number of victims, in Brazil the mining industries are the ones that have presented this problem. Finally, the lecture emphasized the need to strengthen public policies in this type of displacement.
Young return migrants at the Autonomous University of Baja California: an approach to their profile.
Martha Cecilia Herrera García and Violeta Alejandra Bautista Chávez.
In this research carried out by Prof. Martha Cecilia Herrera García and Prof. Violeta Alejandra Bautista Chávez, the objective was to quantify and discover the young women in their migratory trajectory, as well as to know the adverse aspects that social, family, work and educational limitations can represent in cases of return. For this, meetings were held on the Mexicali campus and the requirement was that they had been living in the United States for at least one year.
Of the total of those surveyed, they located 31 young return migrants, which represents 8.2% of the total of those surveyed, 17 men and 14 women. They found as characteristic of the border area, the option of being able to study in the United States crossing with a tourist visa. Three main reasons were found within the reason for return: study, work and family reunification. However, they have very strong ties and networks with the United States to the extent that 21 of the 31 students have plans to return to the USA for work purposes.
Finally, some final reflections were made on the influence of individual, family and structural conditions on return. The answers given by the young students show that there are ties and networks that are maintained despite the border, so they are members of transnational families who have the possibility of emigrating again. Thus, return means for families to start over, relearning social norms, customs and getting to know the city, until they feel part of the land again.
Esther Alonso, PhD student at Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales. UNAM esther.alonso@politicas.unam.mx