Migration in South America: Challenges of Migrant Integration and Regional Cooperation

Abstract

Migration is a significant phenomenon today, particularly in South America, where the massive influx of migrants from Venezuela has overwhelmed the capacity of the countries in the region to face this challenge. This article analyses migration flows in six South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru), the level of integration of migrants in these countries, and regional cooperation initiatives to manage migration. Using a mixed-methods approach, statistics from various databases were examined to assess migration flows and integration of migrants. The results of this study show that both state responses and regional cooperation initiatives have been insufficient in addressing the challenges posed by mass migration, while efforts to integrate migrants in South American countries have been very limited. The article proposes several levels of regional cooperation to improve migration management in South America, emphasizing the need to strengthen bilateral and sub-regional cooperation before moving to broader initiatives. The research underlines that cooperation is crucial to addressing the challenges of migration and that the effective integration of migrants allowshost countries to reap the benefits of human mobility. Keywords: Migration; South America; Cooperation, Integration.