Deportation meets development: a case study of return migration in Guatemala

ABSTRACT

Using Guatemala as a case study, this article seeks to examine how countries like Guatemala can harness the political, economic and social capital of returned migrants and leverage the opportunities presented by return migration for sustainable human and economic development. To conceptualise the ways in which migration might contribute to Guatemala’s development, the country’s historical context, current demographics, societal challenges and state of development must be taken into account. The article identifies the challenges and opportunities of return migration for development in Guatemala. Drawing on several theoretical perspectives, the article makes policy recommendations in consideration of how return migration from a more-developed nation to a less-developed nation might become an opportunity for development.

KEYWORDS:

• Guatemala
• return migration
• deportation
• development

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. Dauphine Sloan for her invaluable feedback and guidance in the writing of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Three federal agencies are responsible for collecting and sharing data. Each agency collects different information, and not all information is made publicly available. The Global Workers Justice Alliance provides additional information (see references).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jenn Miller Scarnato

Jenn Miller Scarnato is a doctoral student in the City, Culture, & Community program at Tulane University, where she conducts community-based, participatory action research using narrative methods with migrant youth. Jenn holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Arts in Women’s Studies and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Jenn lived and worked in Guatemala from 2014-2016.