Analysis of the Evolution of Migration Policies in Mexico and the United States, from Development to Containment: A Review of Migrant Caravans from the Northern Triangle of Central America during the Period 2014 to 2020

Melissa Baltazar Flores

Master's thesis

Abstract:

In 2014, Barack Obama declared an immigration crisis due to the arrival of thousands of women and unaccompanied minors in “caravans” from the Northern Triangle of Central America, which marked the change in the trend of flows that used to be formed mainly by men seeking temporary migration. The objective of this research is to demonstrate that the policies of Mexico and the US, which until some time ago were focused on a strategy of development-containment, have been transformed into containment-deportation as a desperate measure to mitigate the massive migration. Due to the diversity of routes and the short time in which migrants travel through Mexico, it is difficult to measure the volume and characteristics of the flows, which constitutes essential information for making decisions on migration policy, as well as for assistance and humanitarian support. The transition of migration policies from Development to Containment of Mexico and the US responds mainly to national security issues, over and above the regional interests. The analysis is developed in two levels: the macro, -that focuses on the governmental policies of the countries involved-, in which we will start from the premise that the determining factor for migration is economic and social, so it will be approached from the World-System Theory; and the micro level, in which, in order to understand the changes in the composition of the migrating population nucleus and the objectives pursued in the medium and long term in the destination country, the Theory of Migration Networks will be utilized.

Abstract:

In 2014, Barack Obama declared an immigration crisis due to the arrival of thousands of women and unaccompanied minors in “caravans” from the Northern Triangle of Central America, which marked the change in the trend of flows that used to be formed mainly by men seeking temporary migration. The objective of this research is to demonstrate that the policies of Mexico and the US, which until some time ago were focused on a strategy of development-containment, have been transformed into containment-deportation as a desperate measure to mitigate the massive migration. Due to the diversity of routes and the short time in which migrants travel through Mexico, it is difficult to measure the volume and characteristics of the flows, which constitutes essential information for making decisions on migration policy, as well as for assistance and humanitarian support. The transition of migration policies from Development to Containment of Mexico and the US responds mainly to national security issues, over and above the regional interests. The analysis is developed in two levels: the macro, -that focuses on the governmental policies of the countries involved-, in which we will start from the premise that the determining factor for migration is economic and social, so it will be approached from the World-System Theory; and the micro level, in which, in order to understand the changes in the composition of the migrating population nucleus and the objectives pursued in the medium and long term in the destination country, the Theory of Migration Networks will be utilized.

Keywords

Containment, Development, World-System Theory, Migrant caravans, Northern Triangle of Central America, Migration Networks, Migration crisis

Keywords

Containment, Migration crisis, Migrant caravans, World-System Theory, Northern Triangle of Central America, Migration Networks, Development

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 20. 9. 2018

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 1. 6. 2021
• Supervisor: Pavel Přikryl
• Reader: Kateřina Kočí

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Mezinárodní ekonomické vztahy / International and Diplomatic Studies