Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2023

Publication Title

Journal of Latino-Latin American Studies

Volume

12

Issue

1: Special Issue

First Page

16

Last Page

29

Abstract

Host societies have several parameters to designate what they consider ‘good’ or ‘desirable’ migrants, compared to ‘bad’ or ‘undesirable’ migrants. Both governments and societies promote these parameters using laws and regulations, such as a points system of immigration; or by exalting or criticizing certain attitudes, conditions, and behaviors, such as praising or even expecting fluency in the host country language. This paper focuses on how the Venezuelan migrants position themselves, and others, within this idea of being ‘desired’ and ‘undesired’ migrants, within the context of Bogotá, Colombia. Using theories of ‘aporophobia’ and ‘pigmentocracy’ as analytical approaches, it discusses how migrants categorize themselves and others, and how they differentiate themselves from those they consider ‘bad’ or less desirable. The paper draws from interviews that took place before the Covid-19 pandemic and analyses how ‘othering’ takes place within migrant communities.

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