Comments on the Causes of Undocumented Migration in Latin America
| Published date | 01 April 1983 |
| Author | JULIO NOÉ CELY MARTÍNEZ |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.1983.tb00453.x |
| Date | 01 April 1983 |
Commei?ts on the Causes
of
Undocumented Migration in Latin America
BY
JULIO
NOE
CELY
MART~NEZ*
UNDOCUMENTED MIGRATION
-
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The topic of the Sixth Seminar
on
the Adaptation and Integration of Immigrants
covers undocumented migrants, with ‘specific reasons and basic causes of undocu-
mented migration’ as
a
sub-topic.
As Colombia is a source of migrant manpower, we have sought to present a docu-
ment that describes the principal factors giving rise to migration and particularly those
that cause undocumented and illegal migration. However, before proceeding, we intend
to discuss a few basic concepts relating
to
the use of human resources.
The fact that migration has always existed is demonstrated by the American conti-
nent’s development, which was brought about by waves of migrants from England,
France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and elsewhere. We shall not list the causes of those
migratory currents but merely note their existence. After the War it became necessary
to resettle people
so
that they could contribute to the task of rebuilding countries that
had been affected by the hostilities, and ICEM was set up as the body responsible for
ensuring that their resettlement took place in accordance with a rational migration
process. At the present time, various inter
-
and intra-regional migratory movements
are taking place
-
for different reasons
-
particularly between the so-called developing
countries.
In view of what has been said above, it may well be asked whether migration is a
problem or merely a natural trend that has to be rationalised.
Since migration exists and is difficult
to
restrain, it
is
obviously to somebody’s ad-
vantage.
It
may certainly benefit the migrant himself and, at a different level, the
receiving countries benefit from this valuable contribution made by immigrants to
their development, while in the countries of origin pressure on the domestic labour
market is relieved
-
although at the cost of a drain on their human resources whose
education and training entailed a considerable investment.
Colombia has never considered migration in itself to be a problem but simply as a
trend which deserves special attention and which, if dealt with sensibly, could provide
benefits for both the country of origin and that of destination. Difficulties arise in re-
*
The author wishes to express his thanks to MI.
Wilson
Vanegas Rivera,
Chief of the Migrations
Section of the Ministry of Labour
and
Social Security of Colombia for his co-operation, as
well
as
MI.
Richard Schurmann,
ICM Representative in Colombia for his guidance. Their contributions
were of inestimable value in the preparation of this paper.
151
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