The Problem

Violence against migrants is an escalating social problem globally. According to the International Organization for Migration, a migrant is anyone that is “moving or has moved across an international border, whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary.” The World Migration Report 2018 notes that “in recent years, we have seen an increase in migration and displacement occurring due to conflict, persecution, environmental degradation and change, and a profound lack of human security and opportunity.” The problem outlined in this chapter is that migrants, depending on their level of vulnerability to victimization, experience different types of violence during multiple phases of migration, and existing policies are often insufficient to reduce the violence. We will offer examples of the unique types of violence that migrants may experience from each continent.

There are distinct factors that cause someone to leave their country of origin. Push factors are those that force individuals to leave in hopes of an improved life elsewhere, such as overpopulation, poverty, crime, and armed conflict. Pull factors are elements that attract migration to a destination country, such as work-related opportunities. Both push and pull factors create opportunities for violence against migrants. People may also be trafficked, and often leave their countries because they are deceived by traffickers which creates a unique host of issues.

Violence perpetrated against migrants globally occurs before, during, and after migration. Violence against migrants can also happen anywhere: in transit, in the workplace, at home, in refugee camps or detention centers, and within migrant groups. Many States deny rights to migrants. Irregular status is common and has severe repercussions such as deportation and statelessness. Denial of rights and irregular status often lead to economic and social marginalization. In the workplace, abuse and violence are common and may include: underpay, withholding of pay, hazardous work conditions, and sexual and physical abuse. Within and outside of the workplace, migrants are subject to violence from verbal abuse to murder. One reason is xenophobia: the perpetrators of violence are antagonistic towards non-natives. Workplace managers and others take advantage of the precarious position in which migrants find themselves: they are frequently poor, desperate for income, and do not often report crimes or abuse to law enforcement.