Challenges in the Social Reintegration of Deported Children and Adolescents to Guatemala from Mexico and the United States: Misalignment between Migration Policy and Local Capacities

This presentation explores the challenges Guatemala faces in reintegrating children and adolescents deported from the United States and Mexico. Using empirical data disaggregated by age, gender, educational level, and accompaniment status, we demonstrate how migration policies implemented in the Global North do not align with local capacities to support these populations. Through seven key indicators—age and gender distribution, educational level at the time of return, accompanied vs. unaccompanied status, access to social and educational services, adolescent employment rates, vulnerability post-return, and access to psychological care—we provide a comprehensive analysis of the reintegration process.

The presentation highlights the gaps between the intended outcomes of migration policies and the local realities in Guatemala, particularly focusing on minors' access to education and mental health services. Data analysis reveals significant challenges in integrating adolescent returnees into formal labor markets and preventing their return to vulnerable situations. Our research emphasizes the need for tailored migration policies that address specific age groups and gendered needs, offering evidence-based recommendations to improve policy coherence.

This study aligns with the objectives of the working group by offering a case study from the Global South, demonstrating the mismatch between policy frameworks developed in the Global North and their implementation in local contexts. Our findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of migration governance, providing policy recommendations to bridge the gap between migration policy and the reintegration capacities of host countries like Guatemala.

This presentation will explore key combinations of variables, including age, sex, and country of deportation to identify demographic trends, number of returnees by sex and year to detect patterns over time, and age and accompaniment status to assess vulnerabilities among minors. These insights will provide valuable evidence to inform tailored migration policies and improve reintegration efforts for deported children and adolescents in Guatemala.