VENEZUELAN MIGRATION AND PERCEPTION OF CITIZENS SECURITY IN  BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA: ACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSECURITY OR VICTIMS OF STIGMATIZATION  AND XENOPHOBIA?

This paper examines the effect of the arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá from 2017 onwards in relation to the perception of security of the city’s inhabitants. This study has been performed succeeding extensive reporting of Colombian media in which Venezuelan migrants were held responsible for what had been named ‘a security crisis’. The results of this study show that the arrival of Venezuelan migrants has had a highly negative impact on the perception of security of Bogotá residents. Nevertheless, this study found that it is very unlikely, based upon official statistics, that the Venezuelan migrant population is to be held accountable for the ‘security crisis’. This study found that the security crisis, which is in essence a management crisis, is being used as an instrument by the highest political powers in order to attain personal success and slander political opponents. Venezuelan migrants are the victim of this internal power battle, exemplified by the presence of...Show moreThis paper examines the effect of the arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá from 2017 onwards in relation to the perception of security of the city’s inhabitants. This study has been performed succeeding extensive reporting of Colombian media in which Venezuelan migrants were held responsible for what had been named ‘a security crisis’. The results of this study show that the arrival of Venezuelan migrants has had a highly negative impact on the perception of security of Bogotá residents. Nevertheless, this study found that it is very unlikely, based upon official statistics, that the Venezuelan migrant population is to be held accountable for the ‘security crisis’. This study found that the security crisis, which is in essence a management crisis, is being used as an instrument by the highest political powers in order to attain personal success and slander political opponents. Venezuelan migrants are the victim of this internal power battle, exemplified by the presence of xenophobic and stigmatizing acts and tendencies present in both the political and public domain.Show less

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VENEZUELAN MIGRATION AND PERCEPTION OF CITIZENS SECURITY IN BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA: ACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSECURITY OR VICTIMS OF STIGMATIZATION AND XENOPHOBIA?