How Latin American States Protect Their Emigrants in Times of COVID-19

Abstract

For a region as troubled by the COVID-19 pandemic as Latin America still is, the capacities displayed so far by some of its states to respond promptly to the needs of their emigrants have been remarkable. Their engagement in these dire times emanates from capacities built over years in the field of emi­grant policies, and sets important precedents for other regions elsewhere. States of origin design policies that target their non-resident citizens (i.e. diaspora) across many dimensions of social life and which are not only crucial for states of origin but can be key to the integration of emigrants in states of reception. Even as the parties in and ideological orientations of government change, the nascent trends of outreach by several Latin American states to their emigrants seem to be sustained across different policy areas. Citizenship is among the most stable policy areas for emigrant policies, suggesting that extensions of rights formulated in terms of "citizen rights" prevail despite changing political winds. Long-term investments in building structures abroad - through robust consular networks and services adaptable to emigrants - have paid off for some Latin American states, which were able to provide rapid and satisfactory responses for protecting their emigrants even during early moments of the COVID-19 pandemic. States of origin should strive to go beyond typical diaspora engagement policies (e.g. incentives for remittances and voting rights). They must also devise social and cultural outreach policies, as well as offer different channels for emigrants' participation and representation. Still, emigrant policies will remain fruitless if structures for their adequate administration both at home and abroad are lacking. To reduce mere window dressing, it is necessary that states invest in enhancing their consular networks and the governance of diaspora units at home.