Pushing the Boundaries

New trends of increased arrivals of ‘extra-continental’ migrants and refugees, many from conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, were raising substantive challenges of security and justice for Latin American societies. At the same time, particularly in Central America, novel patterns of gang- and drug-related generalised violence are producing extensive forced displacement. As States in the region seek to balance societal fears about terrorism and criminality against their international obligations to protect refugees and displaced persons, they explore new forms of transnational cooperation on asylum and migration issues.

Employing a multi-disciplinary methodology this three-year project investigated and influenced the ways in which Latin American States utilised transnational structures and interventions to address new security and justice challenges arising from forced migration.

The project was funded under the Future Research Leaders scheme by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) of the United Kingdom.