Socioeconomic reality of migrant youth from the municipality of San Miguel

Abstract

Irregular migration has been a persistent sociohistorical phenomenon during the last forty years in El Salvador, mainly driven by the economic difficulties and the lack of job opportunities. The social exclusion scenarios generated in the country propel the emigration of many citizens that go abroad with the hope of finding economic prosperity and a stable sociocultural environment in other territories. Being irregular immigration an important phenomenon, it has to be addressed from a scientific and multi-causal perspective, focusing on the economic, political and sociocultural aspects in which the young population is mainly involved. Approximation to this phenomenon allows the redefinition of social institutions and government policies, favoring the integrity, dignity and respect for the human rights of migrant and returnees, which allows the implementation of interinstitutional strategies in labor and socio-educational aspects that have an impact on migration prevention. The reality of rural and urban student residents from the municipality of San Miguel was studied to identify their expectations regarding the possibility of migrating, according to the socioeconomic conditions and the insecurity context in which they live in; additionally, the experience of the youth that underwent irregular migration and then came back to the country was studied as well. Finally, the work of different aid institutions linked mainly with migrants and returnees throughout initiatives and reintegration projects was investigated.