Bureaucratic Expertise in Policy-Making: Insights from Colombia’s Temporary Statute of Protection for Venezuelan Migrants

This study examines the policy-making process behind Colombia’s Temporary Statute of Protection for Venezuelan Migrants (ETPV) adopted in 2021, which successfully regularized nearly 2 million Venezuelan migrants and was internationally praised for its inclusive and rights-based approach. The research highlights the significant role of trained bureaucrats in shaping evidence-based migration policy. To re-construct policy-making, the research triangulates data from 35 interviews with policy-makers and experts, secondary literature on migration’s social and economic effects in Colombia, and secondary literature on institutional capacities developed during its prior internal forced displacement. Findings reveal that the ETPV emerged from a collaborative process involving trained bureaucrats from Migration Colombia, the institution responsible for migration control, and the newly created Border Management Office. Bureaucratic input was essential for conducting cost-benefit analyses, using international aid effectively, and ensuring coordination between various state sectors. This research highlights how policy-making processes rooted in bureaucratic expertise and institutional capacity can lead to policies that protect migrants’ rights while addressing host society concerns, such as labour market competition, strain on public services, and security. However, it also highlights the need for long-term solutions beyond temporary measures, to ensure the sustainability of migrant integration.