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MIGRATION TRENDS IN , , AND THE DURING COVID-19

November 2020

International Organization for Migration (IOM) REGIONAL OFFICE IN SAN JOSÉ, +

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OBJECTIVES OF THE BRIEF……………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 3

IOM’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19…………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 RECENT CHANGES IN MOBILIT Y……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…….. 5 Figure 1: Total monthly entries to the national territory of selected , foreigners and / or nationals, 2019 and 2020 ……………………………………….…... 5 MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Figure 2: Monthly migrant apprehensions reported on the Southwest , 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)………………………………………………….. 7 Figure 3: Apprehensions of migrants originating from countries of Central America (, and ) registered by Mexican authorities, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……...…….. 7 Figure 4: Apprehensions of extracontinental migrants (originating from countries in and ) registered by Mexican immigration authorities, 2019 and 2020 (Jan- Aug)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 8 Figure 5: Caribbean and extrarregional migrants identified in irregular transit in the southern zone of (Darien Gap), 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug), by of origin………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………….………………………………. 8 MIGRANT RETURNS…………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 Figure 6: Migrant returns to Northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) from and the United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)…………… 9 Figure 7: Migrant returns to Northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador), by of departure, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)………………………. 9 ISSUANCE OF VISAS………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Figure 8: H-2A visas (temporary agricultural workers) issued in the United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)…………………………………………………………... 10 Figure 9: H-2B visas (non-agricultural temporary workers) issued in the United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)…………………...…………………….……………. 10 Figure 10: F1 visas (students enrolled in academic programs) issued in the United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)………………………….………………………… 11 Figure 11: New applications and extensions approved for temporary residents in , 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Jun)……………………………………………….…… 11 MISSING MIGRANTS………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………..….…………. 12 Figure 12: Missing migrants identified in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, 2014-2020 (Jan-Sept)………………………………………………….... 12 Table 1: Missing migrants identified in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, by , 2020 (Jan-Sept)……………………………..…………….... 12 ………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 Figure 13: Top -receiving countries in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, in % of GDP, where remittances exceed 10% of GDP (2016-2019)…….... 13 Figure 14: Top remittance-receiving countries in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, in USD billions, where remittances exceed USD 3 billion (2016-2019)..…. 13 Figure 15: Monthly remittance flows to selected countries (with available data) in the region, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug), in USD millions……………….………………. 14

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OBJECTIVE S OF THE BRIEF

The COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on the health, social and economic situation in countries of Central America, North America and the Caribbean, and directly or indirectly affects millions of people. Migrants have been particularly impacted by this crisis.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Regional Office for Central America, North America and the Caribbean presents this brief in to highlight several key changes and trends in mobility and migration that have occurred during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief focuses on official statistics from January to August 2020, using data from 2019 as a reference. Most of the information is derived from official records published and maintained by governments in the region.

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IOM’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

IOM is working with governments and partners to ensure that migrants – in regular or irregular situations, returnees, and displaced persons – are included in efforts to mitigate and combat the pandemic´s impact.

IOM’s efforts to support vulnerable groups affected by COVID-19, including migrants, are geared towards avoiding harmful complications, minimizing hardship and reducing public health risk. All migrants, in regular or irregular situations, and including those in exploitative situations, should have access to health information, testing, treatment and care. They should also be included in contact tracing and community interventions.

IOM’s Regional Preparedness and Response Plan, for the period from February to December 2020, focuses on four strategic priorities:

1. Ensure a well-coordinated, informed and timely response 3. Ensure access of affected people to basic services and through mobility tracking systems and strengthening commodities, including health care and protection and partnership and coordination structures at the community, national and regional level. .

2. Contribute to global, regional, national and community 4. Support international, national and local partners to preparedness and response efforts for COVID-19 to respond to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. reduce associated morbidity and mortality.

See the following resources for more information:

• IOM Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: Coronavirus Disease 2019, available here. • IOM Regional Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan COVID-19: Central America, North America and the Caribbean, available here. • Our online global portal with more information about the impact of COVID-19 on mobility restrictions (Mobility Impacts COVID-19), available here. • Our regional portal with COVID-19 related communication materials, available here. • COVID-19 situation reports from around the , available here.

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RECENT CHANGES IN MOBILITY

Figure 1: Total monthly entries to the national territory of selected countries, foreigners and / or nationals, 2019 and 2020

United States (foreigners, millions, Jan-Aug) Mexico (foreigners and nationals, millions, Jan-Aug) 5 5 4.46 4.00 4.06 3.87 4 3.56 3.49 4 3.87 3.60 3.52 3.48 3.43 3.51 2.89 3.48 3.52 2.60 3.60 3.28 3.28 3.15 3.49 3 2.89 2.90 3 3.02 2.95 2.43 2 2.86 2 2.06 2.53 -76% -58% 1 1 0.59 0.87 0.02 Jan-Aug 2020 vs. Jan-Aug 2020 vs. 0.02 0.15 0.18 0.64 0.04 0.09 0.14 0.35 0 Jan-Aug 2019 0 Jan-Aug 2019

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

Canada (foreigners and nationals, millions, Jan-Aug) Costa Rica (foreigners and nationals, thousands, Jan-Jun)

7 6.88 600 509.3 6 6.44 500 447.5 431.3 5 4.59 5.04 4.79 406.0 4.02 4.00 400 378.0 3.69 3.67 4.58 364.5 4 4.38 3.44 392.6 303.3 339.1 300 3.84 3.46 321.0 3 2.82 296.1 291.3 276.4 200 208.8 2 -72% 248.3 -58% 1 Jan-Aug 2020 vs. 100 Jan-Jun 2020 vs. 0.10 0.08 0.13 0.17 0.24 11.4 6.9 10.9 0 Jan-Aug 2019 0 Jan-Jun 2019

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Jun)

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RECENT CHANGES IN MOBILITY

Panama (foreigners and nationals, thousands, Jan-Aug) (foreigners, thousands, Jan-Aug) 487.3 500 500 465.5 449.0 400 370.0 400 422.9 436.3 366.4 348.0 299.8 409.7 291.6 279.4 273.2 291.0 328.9 300 259.4 267.1 300 305.4 295.8 315.8 265.0 255.1 275.4 282.4 284.3 200 242.4 251.5 200 205.0 177.3 133.7 -67% -62% 100 100 Jan-Aug 2020 vs. 41.9 43.8 Jan-Aug 2020 vs. 3.0 3.3 5.3 5.5 6.9 0.0 0.0 7.2 0 Jan-Aug 2019 0 Jan-Aug 2019

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

Dominican Republic (foreigners and nationals, thousands, Jan-Aug) In the first eight months of 2020, there was a significant decrease in human

mobility throughout the region, beginning in March. This decline in mobility 750 coincid ed with the introduction of travel restrictions imposed by various 678.2 714.1 682.7 637.3 660.8 countries in the region in order to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. A slight 641.2 600 636.1 576.1 increase may be observed in the number of entries / arrivals registered 636.9 599.2 574.5 515.2 between June and August 2020 (where updated public data are available) in 450 425.9 countries where restrictions have been lifted or lessened. 385.0 300 296.3 156.3 -64% 150 127.4 Jan-Aug 2020 vs. Sources: United States - National Travel and Tourism Office, Non-Resident Arrivals to the United 1.4 1.5 2.4 0 Jan-Aug 2019 States, n.d.; Canada – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), International Tourists Entering or Returning to Canada, by Province of Entry, n.d.; Mexico – Migration Policy Unit, Boletín Mensual de Estadísticas Migratorias 2019 y 2020, 2020; Costa Rica – General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners, Informes Estadísticos Anuales 2019 y 2020; Panama – National Migration Service, Migración – Movimiento Migratorio Agosto 2020, n.d.; Jamaica Tourist Board, Monthly Statistical Report August 2020, 2020; – Central Bank, Llegada vía aérea, Total 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) (según residencia y aeropuertos), n.d. [10 Oct. 2020].

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MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS

United States Mexico Figure 2: Monthly migrant apprehensions1 reported on the Southwest Figure 3: Apprehensions2 of migrants originating from countries of E’ E’ United States border, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug) Northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) registered by Mexican immigration authorities, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug) 30,000 140,000 Total 2019: 788,671 Total 2019: 152,138 132,856 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 243,477 26,128 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 44,591 120,000 25,000 92,833 100,000 99,273 94,902 20,000 17,632 18,240 80,000 66,883 15,862 71,978 15,000 47,979 13,105 60,000 50,684 12,259 46,864 11,210 10,905 40,507 10,000 9,408 38,463 8,878 40,000 30,077 30,389 33,512 7,782 7,465 6,971 7,215 30,767 35,407 5,000 7,289 20,000 29,205 2,444 4,349 21,550 21,857 1,824 5,773 16,162 1,990 0 0

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

After a 47 per cent decrease in migrant apprehensions recorded on the The number of apprehensions of migrants originating from Northern Central southwestern United States border between March and 2020, the America reported by Mexican immigration authorities increased by more than

number of monthly apprehensions began to increase again, and in August 2020 112 per cent in January 2020 compared with December 2019. After a notable reflected levels similar to the same month in 2019. In any year, most migrants decrease between March and May 2020, the number of registered apprehended at the United States-Mexico border originate from Mexico and apprehensions began to increase again between May and August 2020. countries of Northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador).

Source: United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (Department of Homeland Source: Migration Policy Unit, Registry and Identity of People (Mexican Secretariat of the Security), Southwest Border Migration FY 2020, n.d. [07 Oct. 2020]. 1Note: Beginning in March Interior), Eventos de extranjeros presentados ante la autoridad migratoria, según continente y país de 2020, statistics on apprehensions include both 8 Apprehensions (detentions or nacionalidad, 2019 and 2020, n.d. [07 Oct. 2020]. 2Note: apprehensions data are based on inadmissibles processed under the authority of CBP) and Title 42 Expulsions (individuals information recorded in migrant centers, central and local offices of the National Institute of expelled to the country of last transit or home country in the interest of public health) (data for Migration, and correspond to events rather than individuals (i.e. the same individual could have 2020 are provisional and are subject to change). been apprehended more than once) (data for 2020 are provisional and are subject to change).

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MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS

Mexico Panama Figure 4: Apprehensions3 of extracontinental migrants (originating Figure 5: Caribbean and extrarregional migrants identified in irregular from countries in Africa and Asia) registered by Mexican immigration transit in the southern zone of Panama (Darien Gap), 2019 and 2020 authorities, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug) (Jan-Aug), by region of origin4 30,000 2,500 Total 2019: 12,943 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 868 23,968 25,000 13 (Others) 2,000 1,912 965 1,836 4,030 20,000 1,500 1,292 1,329 5,169 1,289 15,000 1,197 1,000 1,106 688 10,000 565 724 682 13,791 9 (Others) 4,650 500 5,000 223 265 229 265 218 40 39 11 36 323 3,472 686 0 25 0 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

Carribean Africa Asia Others 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) Apprehensions of extracontinental migrants registered by Mexican Between January 2019 and August 2020, the main countries of origin of

immigration authorities began to decline progressively beginning in mid-2019. migrants identified in irregular transit in the southern zone of Panama were: Data for 2020 reflect the same trend. The number of apprehensions declined (13,860), (3,397), Cameroon (2,251), India (2,116), Congo (1,345), by 83 per cent between March and April 2020, until only 11 apprehensions of Bangladesh (1,108) and (939), followed by several other Asian, African

extracontinental migrants were registered in June 2020 – a significant decrease and South countries. Nationals of the seven aforementioned considering that nearly 2,000 encounters were registered in June 2019. countries constituted 87.4 per cent of all migrants identified in irregular transit in this area during this 20-month period. Source: Migration Policy Unit, Registry and Identity of People (Mexican Secretariat of the Interior), Eventos de extranjeros presentados ante la autoridad migratoria, según continente y país de Source: Panama National Migration Service, MIGRACIÓN – Irregulares en tránsito por Darién nacionalidad, 2019 and 2020, n.d. [07 Oct. 2020]. 3 Note: apprehensions data are based on December 2019 y 2020, 2019 y 2020 [19 Nov. 2020]. 4Note: data were not registered in information recorded in migrant centers, central and local offices of the National Institute of April, May and July 2020 due to closures related to COVID-19. Figures are preliminary as of 31 Migration, and correspond to events rather than individuals (i.e. the same individual could have October 2020 and are subject to change. The total for Caribbean migrants includes only been apprehended more than once) (data for 2020 are provisional and are subject to change). and Cubans given that other Caribbean nationalities were not identified in this period.

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MIGRANT RETURNS

Figure 6: Migrant returns to Northern Central America (Honduras, Figure 7: Migrant returns to Northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) from Mexico and the United States, 2019 and 2020 Guatemala and El Salvador), by country of departure, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)6 (Jan-Aug)5

35,000 300,000 31,879 Total 2019: 251,778 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 65,339 251,778 3,658 30,000 250,000 1.5% 25,187 27,856 26,707 25,000 200,000 115,062 22,354 20,556 45.7% 20,000 18,256 18,534 19,435 15,633 150,000 15,342 15,000 15,564 15,335 100,000 10,000 12,960 10,447 133,058 65,339 425 0.6% 5,307 5,813 50,000 52.8% 33,101 5,000 2,914 50.7% 4,492 31,813 2,585 0 0 48.7%

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

Returns from Mexico Returns from the United States

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) Returns from other countries

The number of migrant returns to countries of Northern Central America recorded in January 2020 represented the highest figure registered for the month of

January in the past four years. However, between March and June there was a significant decrease in the number of recorded returns, with a slight rebound in July and August. During the first eight months of 2020, 115,480 fewer migrant returns were registered in Northern Central America compared with the same period in 2019, representing a 64.3 per cent decline. Of the 65,339 migrants who returned to Northern Central America between January and August 2020, 8,071 (12.4%) returned to El Salvador, 29,261 (44.8%) to Guatemala and 28,046 (42.9%) to Honduras.

Source: Northern Triangle Migration Information Management Initiative (NTMI) (IOM), Returning Source: Northern Triangle Migration Information Management Initiative (NTMI) (IOM), Returning Migrants to the NTCA / January - August 2020, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020]. 5Note: Figures on migrant Migrants to the NTCA / January - August 2020, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020]. 6Note: Figures on migrant returns are based on administrative data maintained by countries in Northern Central America returns are based on administrative data maintained by countries in Northern Central America and include repatriated migrants and assisted returns (data are subject to changes based on and include repatriated migrants and assisted returns (data are subject to changes based on monthly updates to the source). monthly updates to the source).

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ISSUANCE OF VISAS

Figur e 8: H-2A visas (temporary agricultural workers) issued in the United Figure 9: H-2B visas (non-agricultural temporary workers) issued in the States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug) United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug)

40,000 Total 2019: 207,467 25,000 Total 2019: 100,142 35,215 21,894 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 167,307 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 39,806 35,000 20,531 31,303 20,000 30,000 26,957 26,342 25,000 26,430 15,000 13,846 22,374 20,565 13,432 20,000 17,279 17,765 19,164 18,260 13,083 10,000 5,553 15,000 14,737 15,689 14,928 7,249 6,731 9,382 11,395 14,013 11,793 5,381 10,000 6,338 8,360 5,000 3,924 4,165 5,000 9,122 4,902 3,361 4,015 3,438 4,379 135 1,051 0 0 241

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Aug)

• In the four fiscal years from 2016 to 2019, the number of H-2A temporary agricultural visas issued in the United States increased by almost 53 per cent. In the first eight months of 2020, there was a 2.5 per cent increase in the number of H-2A visas issued compared to the same period during the previous year (167,307 from

Jan-Aug 2020, vs. 163,264 during this period in 2019). Between January 2019 and August 2020, nationals of Mexico (344,589, or 92% of H-2A visas issued in this

period), Jamaica (9,136), Guatemala (4,560), (1,228) and Honduras (501) were the principal recipients of H-2A visas in the region. • In the first eight months of 2020, the number of H-2B visas issued fell by 50.1 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. Between January 2019 and August 2020, nationals of Mexico (104,998, or 75% of H-2B visas issued in this period), Jamaica (14,184), Guatemala (3,665), Honduras (1,499) and El Salvador (733) were the principal recipients of H-2B visas in the region. The main sectors of employment for H-2B workers are: groundskeeping and landscaping (approximately 40% of

the total), forestry (approximately 8%), followed by jobs in amusement / recreation, hospitality, / fish processing, construction and restaurant work.

Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs (U.S. Department of State), Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs (U.S. Department of State), Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Statistics, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020]. Statistics, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020].

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ISSUANCE OF VISAS

Figure 10: F1 visas (students enrolled in academic programs) issued in the Figure 11: New applications and extensions approved for temporary United States, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug) residents in Canada, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Jun) 100,000 300,000 Total 2019: 363,607 284,929 90,000 Total 2020 (Jan-Aug): 51,781 256,085 250,000 80,000 86,680 79,099 231,912 216,853 70,000 234,209 200,000 191,900 172,078 60,000 186,267 172,804 181,185 50,000 150,000 169,007 150,050 46,871 43,616 149,617 40,000 146,168 30,798 107,222 100,000 30,000 72,116 15,739 64,105 20,000 16,000 17,519 8,196 7,914 50,000 14,214 8,261 57,001 10,000 6,463 Total 2019: 2.42 million 772 10,260 13,981 3,272 98 242 0 5,398 0 Total 2020 (Jan-Jun): 619,068

2019 2020 (Jan-Aug) 2019 2020 (Jan-Jun)

• In the first eight months of 2020, the number of F1 visas issued in the United States fell by 82.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. In total, 1.94

million non-immigrant visas (which include 19 classes of visas, including H-2A, H-2B and F1) were issued in the United States in the first eight months of

2020. This represents a significant decrease compared to previous years. For example, in the first eight months of 2019, 6.1 million non-immigrant visas were issued, representing more than triple the amount issued in this period in 2020. • The number of new temporary residency applications and extensions (which include temporary resident visas, visitor registrations, study permits, work

permits, extensions and more) approved by Canada decreased by 52 per cent in the first semester (Jan-Jun) of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, by 53 per cent compared to the same period in 2018, and by 43 per cent compared to the first semester of 2017. Between January and June 2020, nationals of Mexico (30,474), Jamaica (14,502), Guatemala (9,252), the United States (7,492) and Haiti (4,262) were the main recipients of temporary Canadian residence visas in the region.

Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs (U.S. Department of State), Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), New Applications and Extensions Issuance Statistics, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020]. Approved by IRCC for Temporary Residents (in Persons), by Month, n.d. [10 Oct. 2020].

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MISSING MIGRANTS

Figure 12: Missing migrants identified in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Table 1: Missing migrants identified in North America, Central

2014-2020 (Jan-Sept)7 America and the Caribbean, by subregion, 2020 (Jan-Sept)

900 797 United States – Mexico Border 252 800 37 697 Caribbean 81 700 681 89 37 14 37 46 Central America 28 600 560 496 517 16 4 39 North America 12 500 11 3 28 428 60 335 369 400 373 Total 373 234 6 23 337 300 Source: IOM, Missing Migrants Project: , n.d. [21 Sept. 2020]. 190 200 422 288 7Note: data in Figure 12 and Table 1 are up-to-date as of 21 251 252 243 100 September 2020. It should be noted that, in the Central America, North 168 154 America and Caribbean region, there are zones where it is difficult to achieve 0 an accurate count of missing and deceased migrants, and incidents may be 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (Jan- undercounted. Little is known about the deaths of migrants on remote or Sept) less populated routes, such as the Darien Gap region on the land border between and Panama, or on maritime routes, including the “Mona Unidentified Men Women Children Passage” between the Dominican Republic and .

• IOM's Missing Migrants Project collects data from various sources (including from guards and medical examiners, and other sources such as media reports,

NGOs, and surveys and interviews of migrants, amongst others), to track migrants who have died or gone missing during their migration journeys to a different country. From 2014 to 21 September 2020, more than 4,000 died during their migration journeys in the region. About 65 per cent of these identified deaths were documented on the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Despite mobility restrictions and border closures established in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, migrants continue to embark on dangerous and potentially life-threatening migration journeys. Hundreds of migrant deaths were recorded in region in the first eight months of 2020.

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REMITTANCES

Figure 13: Top remittance-receiving countries in Central America, Figure 14: Top remittance-receiving countries in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, in % of GDP, where remittances exceed 10% of Mexico and the Caribbean, in USD billions, where remittances exceed USD GDP (2016-2019) 3 billion (2016-2019)

Remittances are a fundamental support and insurance mechanism for migrant families in countries of origin. The COVID-19 pandemic has generated concerns

both regionally and globally regarding the capacities of migrants to send remittances home, given the strong socioeconomic impacts of this crisis in migrant destination countries. These concerns are elevated in recipient countries with a strong and sometimes growing dependency on remittances. Remittances reached the equivalent of 10 per cent or more, and in a few countries more than 20 per cent of GDP in 2019 (see Figure 13). Although remittances constitute a smaller

proportion compared to the total GDP in some other countries of origin in the region – for example, the Dominican Republic, or Mexico, which has the third

highest rate of migrant remittances inflows in the world and received more than USD 39 billion in remittances in 2019 – inflows remain high in absolute terms (see Figure 14).

Source: , Personal remittances, received (% of GDP), n.d. [10. Oct 2020]. Source: World Bank, Personal remittances, received (current US$), n.d. [10. Oct 2020].

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REMITTANCES

Figure 15: Monthly remittance flows to selected countries (with available data) in the region, 2019 and 2020 (Jan-Aug), in USD millions

4,500 4,007.0 4,000 3,537.0 3,574.2 3,500 3,356.4 3,282.1 3,258.7 3,531.9 3,125.0 3,080.3 3,379.4 3,000 2,958.0 3,183.5 2,937.0 3,071.9 2,861.4 2,898.6 2,455.6 2,698.8 2,500 2,438.4 2,591.4

2,000

1,500 1078.7 1050.2 974.5 1000.0 963.3 882.0 947.8 981.0 892.3 940.8 1,000 826.7 865.2 820.0 834.6 808.0 836.8 688.1 690.5 746.8 737.9 827.7 769.9 640.3 628.4 656.7 690.8 638.7 540.7 665.5 585.2 541.9 587.0 566.9 580.3 557.1 586.9 596.2 500 537.0 520.1 395.0 551.3 287.2 508.2 553.1 559.3 389.0 404.9 492.1 479.0 505.6 462.9 484.7 471.1 458.6 482.9 457.9 424.4 449.5 439.6 414.3 292.6 0 166.2 172 217.1 201.7 207.2 194.3 213.3 213.7 193.2 204.3 199.9 232.2 181.5 185.8 198.5 181.8 239.7 275.1

2019 2020

Mexico Guatemala El Salvador Dominican Republic Jamaica

Overall, remittances received in certain top remittance-receiving countries in the region (where monthly data are available) did not exhibit a drastic decline in the first seven or eight months of 2020. In contrast, remittances received in the first eight months of 2020 registered an increase of 9.68 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. In Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, after a considerable decrease in March and April, remittance flows rebounded in May. In

total, remittances received in Guatemala during the first eight months of 2020 exceeded by 2.2 per cent the amount of remittances received during the same period in 2019, while in Jamaica they increased by 13.6 per cent in the first seven months and by 7.3 per cent in the Dominican Republic compared to the first eight months of 2019. In El Salvador, remittances received fell by 1.5 per cent in the first eight months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Sources: Bank of Mexico, Ingresos por Remesas, n.d.; Bank of Guatemala, Ingreso de Divisas por Remesas Familiares, n.d.; Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador, Ingresos Mensuales de Remesas Familiares, n.d.; Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Remesas Familiares – Mensual, n.d.; Bank of Jamaica – Remittance Update April 2020, 2020 [10 Oct. 2020] (data are subject to change).

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