Criminal Victimization of Central American Migrants in Transit Through Mexico

Abstract

This article examines the factors associated with robbery or assault victimization for Central American migrants in transit through Mexico to the United States. A theoretical model of victimization of transit migrants is developed. Drawing on the Survey on Migration in the Southern Border of Mexico 2018 and 2019, a descriptive and logistic regression analysis is carried out to analyze how migrants’ sociodemographic characteristics and journey characteristics are associated with victimization events. The article shows that migrants who used trains and trucks and who received support from assistance networks (e.g., migrant shelters) had higher relative odds of being robbed or assaulted, whereas migrants who hired coyotes had lower relative odds of being victimized. The findings of this work highlight the usefulness of surveys conducted on migrants after deportation to analyze the victimization that international migrants suffer during their dangerous journeys across borders and territories.

Robbery victimization of Mexican migrants while crossing the border

“…In previous work, based on classic authors in the study of criminal victimization (Cohen & Felson, 1979; Hindelang et al, 1978; Hough, 1987; Meier & Miethe, 1993; Miethe & Meier, 1990), the analytical model of the victimization of migration in transit was developed (Torre Cantalapiedra, 2022a). This model considers that in order to understand the different degree of victimization of migrants is essential to consider the “journey characteristics” (e.g.…”

“…Analytical model of victimization of migrants crossing the Mexico–US Border. Source : Own elaboration based on the “analytical model of the victimization of migration in transit” (Torre Cantalapiedra, 2022a). …”

“…Additionally, migrants with higher socioeconomic status signalled through the clothing they wear can be more attractive to criminals. However, in the context of structural border violence described, regardless of their personal characteristics and the fact of being accompanied, there is a general vulnerability of migrants during the transit of territories and borders, especially in certain areas where migrants are more exposed to crime (Ochoa O'Leary, 2009;Torre Cantalapiedra, 2022a).…”

“…(Vélez Salas et al, 2014), the relevance of its analysis should not be underestimated for three reasons: first, the crime of robbery or assault is the most quantitatively important. Second, as the academic literature that addresses the risks of migratory mobility has pointed out, for different spaces of transit and border crossing in Mexico, robberies or assaults occur together with other crimes such as physical or verbal aggressions, or even, sexual assaults (Infante et al, 2011; Ochoa O'Leary, 2009; Ruiz Marrujo, 2001; Slack & Whiteford, 2010; Torre Cantalapiedra, 2022a). In fact, the terms robbery and assault are by definition associated with violence 1 .…”