As Good as it Sounds? The Regularization and Economic Integration of Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia

Abstract: The regularization of forcibly displaced migrants is promoted by NGOs and intergovernmental organizations as a good practice in migration policy. Regularization of forcibly displaced migrants increases their protection, facilitates their access to necessary services, increases their resiliency, and provides access to the formal labor market. Furthermore, providing forced migrants the right to work reduces migrant’s reliance on humanitarian assistance. Colombia’s efforts to regularize Venezuelan migrants have been widely praised. However, its regularization efforts did not reach as many migrants as anticipated, and few Venezuelan migrants work in the formal labor market. This thesis examines why a number of eligible Venezuelans did not apply for regularization and the extent to which regularization has facilitated Venezuelan migrants’ economic integration. This research demonstrates implementation challenges were the greatest factor impeding migrants’ regularization. Disinterest in regularization and the priority of meeting basic needs are also recognized as factors influencing regularization efforts. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that while regularization improved the economic integration of Venezuelans with a regular status, a number of barriers remain. The largest barriers relate to implementation challenges of regularization policies and barriers that result from a segmented labor market.