Ser migrante en tiempos de pandemia: irregularidad, informalidad y marginalidad en Argentina

Abstract

As a result of the almost absolute closure of international borders during the COVID-19 pandemic and the obstruction of internal movements, a fundamental part of the concept of migration lost meaning. In this new context, should host States assume the same responsibility towards all who are in their territories? They can do so both for ethical and humanitarian reasons - people, after all, have rights that are independent of their place of birth - and for practical reasons, in order to contain the advance of the pandemic. That is, do the obligations of people to stay in their homes and not circulate, and of the States to provide what is necessary so that preventive social isolation can be fulfilled? It should be borne in mind that if the States do not do so, or if they do not include certain groups, such as migrants, among the beneficiaries of their benefits, they jeopardize the success of said isolation

This article focuses on the situation of the migrant population residing in Argentina, and in particular that which, due to its economic and social situation, is in a situation of structural disadvantage, and that shares the conditions of vulnerability of other national groups (elderly, children, adolescents, aborigines, etc.) and, in general, with poor people, but who experience additional and specific difficulties in relation to nationals.