RECENT AFRICAN IMMIGRATION TO SOUTH AMERICA: THE ARGENTINE CASE IN REGIONAL CONTEXT

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RECENT AFRICAN IMMIGRATION TO SOUTH AMERICA
THE ARGENTINE CASE IN REGIONAL CONTEXT

• PEDRO F. MARCELINO
• Centre for Research on Latin America and the
  Caribbean
• York University, Toronto, Canada
•  
• MARCELA CERRUTTI
• Centro de Estudios de Población - CONICET, Buenos
  Aires, Argentina

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Newspaper Headlines.

• Africa in Buenos Aires. Every year hundreds of
  young men from the black continent arrive to
  Argentina escaping from wars and misery Where do
  they come from? What are their dreams? What do
  the bijou street vendors that took over downtown
  think about Argentina? (La Nación, 25/4/ 2009)
• Buenos Aires destiny for Africans (La Nación,
  7/9/2009)
• Once a neighborhood in Buenos Aires The
  Little Dakar of new African immigrants (La
  Nación, 21/10/2009)
• Bijou street vendors a group of Africans
  complained persecution and discrimination. A
  ruling from the Superior Tribune ordered
  policemen and prosecutors to let them sell
  because it is for their subsistence (Página 12,
  19/8/2011)

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Argentina a potential destination for Africans?

• In the last few years, the presence of recently
  arrived Africans to Argentina became more
  noticeable, particularly in Buenos Aires City.
• The sudden emergence of this new immigrant group
  raised all sorts of speculations Who are they?,
  What are they doing in Argentina, of all places?,
  Why did they choose to come here?, Is this a
  growing phenomenon?
• Local reactions to their presence vary from more
  sympathetic to openly racist. Up to now
  curiosity, instead of concern, prevails. However
  it is clear that they are not integrated in
  social and economic fabric.
• The predominant view is that African immigrants
  are running away from conflicts over land,
  religion or racial/ethnic persecution.

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General Objectives

• To describe recent African migration to Argentina
  in socio-demographic terms, their migration
  motives, modes of entry, legal situation, context
  of reception and modes of incorporation.
• To propose social, economic, and geopolitical
  hypotheses that might justify the appearance of
  this new migration corridor.
• To stimulate institutional debate, particularly
  regarding the regularization of the migratory
  situation and the process of integration and
  participation of African migrants in receiving
  countries such as Argentina.

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A broader context to account for African
migration to the region

• These migrations constitute marginal expressions
  of a troublesome situation that of people
  fleeing from violence, persecution and hunger
  with no places to go. As such, they should be
  analyze taking broader geopolitical
  considerations into account.
• Despite the relative remoteness of Argentina (and
  Brazil) they are proving to be attractive
  destinations due to
• Open migratory policy (recognition of migrants
  rights)
• Porosity of borders
• Weakness of state control, monitoring of
  irregular migrants and visa overstaying
• Relatively receptive and fairly affluent
  communities to perform informal commercial
  activities.

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Points of departure

• Argentina is at the core of the South America
  migration system with about 1.5 million regional
  immigrants. In this context, African immigration
  is a small and distinctive flow.
• We do not know with certainty the size of this
  group, but there is evidence that it has been
  growing and getting more noticeable (for various
  reasons).
• It is constituted by a variety of migrants from
  different countries. Their backgrounds and
  migratory statuses are heterogeneous, but
  generally they share a common trait most are
  seeking human security.
• Argentina is not the sole destination in South
  America.

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Africans in Argentina the context of reception
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Africans in Argentina

• DURING COLONIAL TIMES AND BEYOND
• Historical records show the significant numbers
  of black, mulattos, brown, and zambos at colonial
  times in Argentina
• Yet, the presence of black Africans in Argentina
  has been neglected by an unfortunate numeric
  argument
• Smaller number of slaves
• Severely downsized by wars and pandemics
• Miscegenation (mestizage)
• The influence of European models of thought that
  purposefully denied their presence

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Africans in Argentina

• It has been shown that Argentina does not glorify
  its mestizage, but it does its whiteness
  derived from an ideal image of how is Argentina
  is.
• Since the mid-1980s, studies of Africa, Africans
  and Afro-argentines, particularly in the XIX and
  XX centuries, have gained significant impulse.
  Emergence of a multicultural narrative in
  academia and the upsurge of a new social movement
  (Afro-Argentine militant groups, cultural
  activism, participation in transnational black
  movements).
• The recent arrival of Africans to Argentina has
  served to visibilize and to discuss the issue
  of the African heritage and influence.

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Africans in Numbers

• African born population is small but grew during
  the last decade. According to census data it grew
  from 1883 people in 2001 to 2738 in 2010.
• The inflow is predominately male 66.5. Among
  newer cohort the percentage of males is even
  higher.
• Heterogeneous educational profiles. Recent
  migrants, lower educational attainment.
• Two types older population that arrived in prior
  migratory corridors (Cape Verde, Tunisia,
  Morocco, Egypt and Algeria) and younger
  population recently arrived (Senegal, Nigeria,
  Sierra Leone, Congo, Angola).

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A Note on Africans in Brazil

• They are a minority but a significantly larger
  population than in Argentina (15,679).
• Roughly 40 are from Angola 22 from Egypt and
  9 from Mozambique.
• Most Egyptians arrived during the first half of
  the XX century and one out of two immigrants from
  Angola arrived between 1960 and 1979, while one
  third arrived after 1990).
• They are also predominately men.

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A First Step Toward Incorporation The Migratory
Situation

• Argentina (as well as Brazil) have migratory laws
  that are considerable less restrictive than those
  of developed countries and practice
  non-refoulement of asylum seekers.
• Yet, for African immigrants the process of
  becoming a temporary or permanent resident is
  much lengthier. They do not come from MERCOSUR
  (or associate) countries and the fact that many
  have entered the country irregularly (with no
  proof of entry) creates barriers to their
  regularization.
• There are considerable references to the arrival
  of migrants crossing illegally from Brazil,
  possibly requiring access and payment of
  smuggling networks.

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Becoming a Regular Migrant Asylum Seekers,
Refugees and Residents

• Data from the National Office of Migration shows
  between 2004 and 2009, 353 applications for
  temporary residencies and 296 for permanent
  residencies were filled by Africans (Senegal,
  Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria,
  Cameroon, Egypt, and Sierra Leone).
• Data from UNHCR, by July 201, there were 3,233
  refugees and 329 asylum seekers 28 from Senegal
  and 3 from Nigeria.
• Among petitioners who are younger than 21 years
  old, the vast majority are from Africa (Senegal,
  Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana).

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Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Residents (contd)

• Petitions from Senegal increased from 0 in 1996,
  to 59 in 2005, to 438 between 2006 and 2008. From
  Sierra Leone, from 1 in 1998 to 71 in 2004.
• Key informants stated that the significant
  increase in the refuge petitions by Senegalese
  probably constitutes a strategy to obtain a
  regular residency in Argentina.
• No empirical studies on reasons given by
  petitioners, although evidence that conflicts in
  West Africa were provided as reasons.

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Living in Argentina

• Senegalese appear to have entered mainly through
  Brazil, using migrant networks in Argentina and
  organized networks at the origin to facilitate
  access to visas for Brazil, provide contacts at
  arrival and facilitate the border crossing.
• Many arrived in less organized manners from
  Sierra Leone, Liberia or Guinea, escaping
  violence in cargo ships with unknown
  destinations.
• High concentration in densely populated areas
  where informal labour opportunities abound
  street vendors, wage workers in small-scale
  enterprises.
• A considerable number may be in a limbo
  situation in terms of regularity.
• Informal incorporation and marginal integration.

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Argentina and Africa Spasmodic foreign
relations

• Africa has not traditionally been a priority for
  Argentinas foreign policy (with the exception of
  South Africa). Low density relations, lack of
  continuity.
• In contrast to Brazilian foreign policy ,
  Argentinas policies were driven by ideological,
  political or commercial impulses.
• Small number of African embassies and consulates
  in Argentina.
• In recent years, intensification of relations,
  bilateral initiatives, particularly to increase
  staple foods production.

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A geopolitical intepretation and policy
implications
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Clash of macro and micro-levelsgeopolitics and
personal aspirations

• African migrations today happen overwhelmingly
  between neighbouring countries in the continent.
• Preferred transcontinental destinations are the
  EU and USA.
• Political complexities in the continent and in
  main exit points have increased the cost of
  migration routes. Migratory projects take longer,
  with more/longer pauses, informal periods in
  different points along the route.
• Pivotal policy changes after 9/11 limited access
  to EU/USA.
• Aspirations to leave (for those who can afford
  it) remain!

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Post-9/11 Migratory Hardships

• Hiked travel prices, need to resort to smuggling
  networks in certain routes - where possibly
  people and drug trafficking may also take place.
  Little data but worrying concern.
• Need for networks of contacts in pit-stops and
  destination.
• The journey becomes part of a personal goal and,
  in cases, a rite of passage or a spiritual
  endeavors with social implications. Failure
  occurs. Going back often not an option.
• Episodes of people stranded in the desert. Border
  extortion. Border turn-backs. Violent reactions
  (borders Mellilla / Ceuta).
• Trans-Saharan migrant routes/prices have shown to
  react fairly quickly to major geopolitical
  changes in Africa / Europe.

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In Africa Migration Pressure

• Less people able to leave (cost / legal
  limitations same amount of people wanting to
  leave Migration Pressure)
• The EU has identified this trend and has
  attempted to improve livelihoods at the source
  - while also exporting immigration policy to
  buffer countries.
• Routes moving via Libya (standby), Tunisia,
  Morocco, Mauritania, Cape Verde. Preferential
  routes depend on current affairs, news of border
  status
• EU/USA migration cooperation post-9/11,
  increasing lately.

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Emergence of a new migration paradigm

• Migration pressure at home (in Africa).
• Fortress Europe (law, Frontex, EU/NATO in West
  Africa).
• Continued/increased difficulty to enter US as
  low-skilled workers. Possible racial/religious
  bias in immigration chains.
• Alternative/creative routes and destinations
  required.
• Peripheral nodes of a novel global migration
  nexus Argentina, but also others Morocco, Cape
  Verde, Libya, Turkey, Cyprus
• From buffer countries to transit countries to
  settlement countries (?). Permanent state of
  transient.
• Liminality of daily life. Strategies of
  invisibility.

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Argentina and the Fear of the Boat

• African migrants construed as Transit Migrants.
  Mixed migration economic, asylum seekers, and de
  facto refugees.
• Cacophony of categorizations does not reflect the
  multitude and complexity of personal and social
  experiences.
• Construed as arriving as polizones, thus
  transferring the fear of the boat, an anxiety
  for the invasion (wont happen).
• Argentinean societys dual reaction
• Curiosity/confusion (Africans here? Are they
  black Brazilian? Or Dominican? Or Haitian? Oh,
  they re from Africa!? Thats far...!)
• Dismay/apprehension (too many. Theyre
  everywhere, dont have jobs, hang in the street.
  Little Dakar in Buenos Aires!!!)

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Expected Trends in African Migration

• Migration is ancestral. Africa is extemporaneous.
  More barriers to inter-border crossing in Africa,
  as elsewhere.
• Most of those who are mobile will move, within
  Africa.
• Those who could already access the EU/USA will
  probably continue to do so (although with extra
  barriers). Those who could not before will find
  it harder.
• It is possible that Argentina will be popularized
  as a destination (football, networks, any future
  legislation). Anecdotal mystique. Expensive
  migratory corridor likely to stay active, even if
  modest (costs high, language a barrier).

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Trends Affecting African out-migration

• Geopolitical mores continue to dictate results
• Post-9/11 policies restricting migration
• Enhanced Schengen Agreement
• Advent of Frontex
• From the rubble of the North African Spring?
• Very heavy-handed tactics in Europe (legal, grey
  areas)
• Significance of asylum and refuge being
  perverted.
• gtgtgt Migrant networks detecting geopolitics and
  choosing compromise solutions such as Brazil and
  Argentina (migration as a human right)

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Other Internal Trends

• Inclusion is limited. Exclusion is selective
  (perceived occupation, social relations).
  Informality becomes the rule.
• Media Coverage and Public Opinion
• From human interest to an expression of concern
• Questioning states response to the migrant flow
• Public debate often polarized (which media
  report?)
• Refugees and polizones vs. vendedores de
  baratillas
• Multicultural Nodes in the Urban Space
• Once / Plaza Misere / Little Dakar
• Villa Gesell and the summer resorts of La Plata
  et al
• Urban voids gaining new life through informality
  and increased exposure to multicultural points

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Policy Implications

• Broadening Argentinas Immigration Policy
• Keynote often less restrictive than EU / US /
  Canada / Australia
• Keynote No expulsions, non-refoulement
• Keynote Legal path to migration as a human right
  (next)
• Amiss on fair path to settlement (temporary or
  permanent)
• Instrumentalization of asylum laws in the absence
  of the above.
• Multilateral agreements with regional bodies on
  issues of migration would enhance forms of
  cooperation
• E.g. Mercosur - ECOWAS
• Enacting effective border controls (ports, land
  border)

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Policy Implications

• Smuggling and trafficking networks
• Fill in the void of regular options
• Define strategies to identify and curb, e.g.
  Triple Frontera
• Identify possible local complicity in border
  regions
• Migration as a human right
• The Argentine path coalitions, joint legal
  action, law by law
• Refuge and asylum in a South American context
• Create a path to settlement, return validity to
  Asylum/Refuge
• Capacity building (all national authorities,
  DNIs)
• Measuring and enhancing integration policies

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Thank you! Gracias!