The Changing Face of Child Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean: A region like no other

Millions of children and families across Latin America and the Caribbean are on the move, driven to leave their homes and communities by the conditions they face in their country of origin. Some embark upon their journey due to poverty or the collapse of essential services. For others, it’s the threat of armed violence or the devastating impact of extreme weather events. Whatever the reason, these journeys are frequently risky for children on the move.

Millions of migrants are unable to access regular and safe migration pathways because they don’t have official documentation, the means to pay the high cost of regular migration, or a sponsor in a destination country. This can result in perilous journeys across treacherous terrain riddled with traffickers and other criminals. Migrant families might also be apprehended in transit or upon reaching their destinations, only to be detained and then returned to their country of origin or last country of transit.

Refugee and migrant children in the region also face significant barriers accessing essential services, in both transit countries and their destinations. At the same time, many host communities are struggling to meet the service and protection needs of migrant and domestic populations alike, causing additional strain on resources and social cohesion.

This Child Alert examines the changing dynamics of child migration in Latin America and the Caribbean through the lens of three key migration flows – northern Central America and Mexico, Haiti and Venezuela.