Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Uruguay welcomed migrants who came to the country in search of new opportunities with open arms. Italians, Spaniards, Armenians, Africans… they integrated into the country and enriched its culture.
In recent years, new accents, new nationalities, and new cultures have been appearing on the streets of Uruguay. The immigration process continues, with both similarities and differences.
Ambassador Jorge Muiño, Director General for Consular Affairs and Outreach and Chair of the National Migration Board, analyzed the country’s immigration policy and explained the challenges it faces.
He made the remarks during the conference titled “Current Migration Policy and Consular Assistance and Cooperation by the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” which took place on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, in the Hemicycle of the Pocitos Campus of Universidad ORT Uruguay.
The event was part of a series of lectures organized by the Department of International Studies in the School of Management and Social Sciences.
Back and forth
Although Uruguay was a country of immigrants during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the situation changed in the mid-20th century, when many of its inhabitants began to emigrate.
"This trend really began in the 1960s," Muiño said. The situation worsened during the dictatorship (1973–1985), when nearly 8% of the population emigrated.
Furthermore, the ambassador noted that Uruguay remained a “source country” for 40 years. In addition, the regulations in place at the time did not facilitate the arrival of large numbers of people.
It was not until the end of the first decade of the 21st century that those who had emigrated began to return. What was the reason? Muiño believes that the crises in Europe (primarily in Spain) and the United States are among the most compelling explanations, given that 85% of those who returned came from those two countries.
“My view is that, if there hadn’t been a crisis, people would have come back, but not in such large numbers,” he said. It is estimated that 26,000 Uruguayans returned between 2011 and 2017.
In any case, the expert noted that Uruguay “was emerging as a country on the rise.” This has been particularly true since 2008, with the improvement in economic conditions.
The new wave of migration
In 2017, Uruguay granted more than 13,000 residency permits, according to Muiño: 9,600 were issued to people living in Mercosur and to relatives of Uruguayan citizens, while 3,800 were granted to people arriving from countries outside Mercosur. Prior to this period, the National Directorate of Migration typically granted a total of 3,000 residency permits per year.
However, he emphasized that the migration process we are currently experiencing is not the same as that of the 19th and 20th centuries.
First of all, he explained that the “traditional” nationalities are not coming to Uruguay. They are not Italians, Spaniards, or French; there is a strong predominance of Venezuelans and Cubans.
In addition, this is the economically active population, aged 18 to 45, with an average level of education that is “slightly higher” than that of Uruguayans.
Economic, political, and environmental factors are some of the reasons why people migrate. Although 75% do so involuntarily, Muiño explained that there are those who do so simply because they have the right to move freely.
Uruguay: A Country of Contrasts
Uruguay is a nation that “transcends borders,” a country of welcome but also of farewell.
According to Muiño, with approximately 14% of Uruguayans living abroad and the country hosting foreign nationals, Uruguay is compelled to “pursue an active policy regarding consular assistance and cooperation.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and residence agreements are some of the international legal instruments that Uruguay relies on to address, protect, and regulate the movement of people.
But beyond that, the ambassador emphasized that the country’s goal is to provide migrants with documentation. “If I process their documentation quickly, I put them on an equal footing with nationals, ” he said.
While he noted that “in other countries it can be somewhat tedious,” he pointed out that this is not the case in Uruguay. But why do foreigners choose Uruguay? Universal healthcare, free education at all three levels, public safety, and stable labor relations governed by wage councils are some of the reasons Muiño hears most often.
“Opening our doors and welcoming migrants—in a safe, orderly, and regulated manner—is a step forward culturally,” he said. “It brings diversity and makes us a much more democratic country.”
Full lecture:
https://youtu.be/oRyemFUJghs?si=nR3pv799SZ9Pcz1g