From Foreign Policy to Domestic Affairs: Understanding States' Perspectives on Forced Displacement in Peru and Colombia

The literature on forced displacement policy often describes a trend in which forcibly displaced people (FDP) are transformed from a matter of foreign affairs into one of domestic policy, as the numbers increase and the phenomenon becomes protracted resulting in its politicization. This transformation often shapes a shift in policy orientation from an initial stance of openness, grounded in humanitarian principles, to more restrictive measures, mirroring security concerns. This pattern has been described in both South-North and South-South forced displacement contexts, illustrated, for instance, by the United States’ and Turkey’s experiences with Cuban and Syrian FDP, respectively. Within the context of the Venezuelan exodus, this trend is exemplified by countries like Ecuador and Peru, which transitioned from initial welcoming approaches to security-based policies, including the imposition of entry visas. Nevertheless, Colombia, which has hosted more than 2,5 million Venezuelan FDP over the seven years since the onset of the exodus, does not conform to this pattern. Despite increasing numbers and prolonged duration of the exodus, the Colombian state, as the main recipient of Venezuelan FDP, continues to view the matter as a foreign affairs issue, intertwined with relations with the sending country. This perception has led, under Duque’s right-wing presidency, to welcoming policies, reflected in the adoption of the Temporary Statute for Venezuelan Migrants in 2021 and, later, under Petro’s left-wing presidency, to restrictive stances, conditioned by the evolution of relations between the Venezuelan and Colombian executives from confrontational to friendly. Through a comparative analysis of Peru and Colombia based on 60 semi-structured interviews with decision-makers and experts, this paper seeks to delve into the conditions under which forced displacement assumes the nature of a domestic or a foreign affairs matter. By controlling variables such as the number of forcibly displaced people, their economic impact and levels of xenophobia, I contend that Colombia’s stance on Venezuelan forced displacement as a foreign affairs issue, as opposed to Peru’s perception as a domestic policy matter, hinges on four key elements: the strength of the Executive, its international reputation, the distribution of competences over forced displacement and the salience of the relations between the receiving and sending countries. By shedding light on –largely overlooked– Latin American cases, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more inclusive theories on forced displacement policy.