Looking out for Paisanos: Latino hometown associations as transnational advocacy networks

Abstract

Migrant organizations are part of everyday associational life in the US. These organizations range in size and scope with interests that include the home and host country. In particular, one form of migrant organization, the Latin American hometown association (HTA), has taken as part of its purpose to aid in development and civic projects within their sending communities. HTAs have identified problems in the home country and take the initiative in solving the problem at hand which has at times allowed them to circumvent the government. Overtime, this ability to solve problems has granted migrants new political access in the home country. The work by HTAs has pressured the government to act on creating new policies that guide how it implements development projects to communities in need. This paper addresses how Latin American HTAs work towards transnational mobilization. Some attention is also given to the critiques of HTA organization.

Keywords:

• hometown associations
• migration
• social movements
• Latin America
• transnationalism

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Jimena Del Pozo, Fletcher Winston, Marcia Marx, and Rita Madelenis for their helpful comments and suggestions.