A Hard Road for Argentina's Bolivians
Grimson, Alejandro
A fierce xenophobic campaign has used immigrant workers as scapegoats for the social crisis. As the sun rises in a working class neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Bolivian immigra street comer for...
...Captain Galvarino, the Director of Urban Order, asserted that "the number of foreigners engaged in theft and homicide crimes is very small...
...In 1995, the Federation of Bolivian Civil tions of exclusion and exploitation...
...7 President Menem stated that "those who do not have their papers in order will have to leave the country" because Argentina will not receive "those who come to commit crimes in our country," he also said that "whenever we ask people to have the required documents we encounter the human rights issue...
...Traditional Bolivian foods, like picante de polio, pique lo macho, chicharr6n or anticucho, can be bought there...
...Los Workers echoed official views by organizing xenophobic o. campaigns...
...34, 35...
...8 Statements made by the Federal Police, however, contradicted those made by the government...
...Many who Argentina goes back to the nineteenth century, the conhad never participated in traditional dances do so in struction of a Bolivian identity as a referent for the Argentina because of "nostalgia...
...1 3 Finally, 77% think that more immigration regulations are necessary...
...Those who dance see strengthening of social ties and the demands for civil it as a way to "do something for Bolivia...
...According to a survey "Bolivians are largely affected by discrimination along with dark-skinned Argentines...
...olivian immigrants respond in different ways to the exclusion and discrimination that they suffer...
...nd Paraguayan Currently, distress caused by the country's four-year king papers and recession has become so widespread that the great majorcar stops, the ity considers itself to be living in worse conditions today veen the squad than twenty years ago...
...The workers who wait on the street corner under Radio programs create and rely on the feelings of nostal- extremely precarious conditions to be hired find in gia and melancholy...
...During the mid 1990s, Bolivians were largely mistrusted by the Argentine population (55%) surpassed only by Chileans (58%).11 Eighty one percent of the population supported policies that controlled foreign labor...
...The union demanded that the government implement strict immigration policies and increase the repression of immigrants from nearby countries...
...Centro de Estudios de Opini6n PNblica, Clarin, February 26, 1998, p. 7. 14...
...2. Roberto Benencia and Alejandro Gazzotti, "Migraci6n limitrofe y empleo: precisiones e interrogantes," paper presented at V Jornadas de Colectividades, IDES, 1995...
...The structure is reflected by public opinion...
...5 During the first few months of 1999, a fierce xenophobic campaign tried to use immigrant workers as scapegoats for the social crisis...
...3 Presidential candidate e Buenos Aires and governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Eduardo Gran Buenos Duhalde, expressed the need to persecute illegal workers 8 from 8.4% to and "defend the Argentine workforce...
...9 The terms "detained" and "convicted" have been used indiscriminately throughout the immigration debate...
...In this way, although Bolivian presence in more strongly outside of their home country...
...Neither the government, the companies nor Vol XXXV, No 2 SEPTEMBERJOCTOBER 2001 33 Alejandro Grimson is an anthropologist at Buenos Aires, specializing in migration and i tions...
...If they do could earn between $5 to $10 for a 10-to day...
...Among those he mentioned were extreme poverty, overpopulation, ethnic problems and massive migration...
...April 2000, the de la Rtia Administration's Secretary of Defense declared that the Armed Forces should focus on "new challenges and threats...
...These fairs provide a meeting point for immigrants who repli- A Bolivian immigrant family at a market in Villa Dominico, Buenos Aires...
...colonial times...
...The fact that Bolivians have identifiable scapegoats for the growi Argentina's current economic crisis only hardship...
...In 1999, during the govintegration process...
...In 1998, more than ten thousand construction workers joined to demand better security measures in the Bolivian na workplace...
...Polls show that xenophobic discourses have a large impact on a significant portion of society...
...among them were Bolivian workers who were also become a affected by the situation...
...Its objectives are to identified with Bolivian culture...
...want to be near the rich and the beautiful...we don't want the Department to be with the horrible people...
...Also see Alicia Maguid, "Migrantes limitrofes en el mercado de trabajo del Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires...
...Organizations such as the National Anti-Discrimination NACIA REPORT ON THE AMERICAS 34REPORT ON RACE AND MIGRATION Institute as well as human rights groups have denounced the scapegoating of immigrants for the current crisis...
...Argentines-the government and the tion--consider this migration to be a nev, a recent human wave comparable in s European migrations...
...Lelio MBrmora, "Mitos xen6fobos," Trespuntos, February 1999, p. 82...
...3. "Bolivianos," Pagina/12 (Buenos Aires), June 11, 1999, p. 1. 4. "Menem dijo que los inmigrantes ilegales deberdn irse del pals," Clarin, January 21, 1999, pp...
...This way to new traditions like the designation of the Virgin of and other immigrant federations have strongly rejected Guadalupe as the "Patron of Bolivian Immigrants in the new General Migration and Immigration Law being Argentina...
...1 4 These statistics illustrate the growing conflict in everyday, intercultural relations...
...Los inmigrantes ilegales como chivos expiatorios," Trespuntos, February 1999, pp...
...Secretary of Migration Hugo Franco asserted that 60% of minor crimes in Buenos Aires are committed by immigrants: "Crime in the capital has become 'foreignized...
...Nevertheless, they had to gather confronting separately in a group with Peruvian and Paraguayan workers who also suffered discrimination...
...31-62...
...Bolivian migrants--as well as Chileans, Peruvians and e of Bolivian Paraguayans-have recently had to face intense xenoback to 1869...
...In time, these encounters strengthen the social networks of this way, Bolivian identifications, though with a certain immigrants, facilitating mutual collaboration in order to risk of ghettoization, have expanded to counter discrimitackle various work, housing and documentation issues, nation and exclusion...
...If the immigrants run to escape detention...
...Bet cars, the running and hirings, they listen Bolivian radio stations in Buenos Aires...
...cate some of the large marketplaces in Bolivia with local Associations (FACBOL) was created to unite legally variants...
...These campaigns sthe labor mar- blame immigrants from neighboring countries for the political factors country's social, economic, sanitary and security probsteady 2 to 3% lems...
...19801996," Estudios migratorios latinoamericanos, No...
...Additionally, Bolivian radio stations have emerged...
...4 ntercultural rela- A labor union called the Union of Construction y la igualdad...
...In January 1999, Duhalde insisted upon the fact that "every day there are fewer job opportunities to be distributed among the University of Argentines...
...Bolivians feel that they are discriminated against or directly insulted at work, on the streets and on public transportation...
...Although we don't have statistics to prove these assertions, we believe that foreign participation in criminal acts is somewhere around 5 to 7...
...80-83...
...Bolivian radio stations circulate news of work objects identified with being Bolivian, such as folkldoric opportunities, and news also circulates by word of mouth music, stories of the Incas, and phrases in Quechua and in immigrant soccer leagues and during feast day celeAymara, thus providing the public space for immigrants' brations...
...Almost no one has world every hour a police car passes by...
...Across from them, protesting union workers chanted "we are Argentines and peronistas," as well as "we are Argentines and not bolitas...
...Bolivian nationalism has thus become a politisocial and cultural debates...
...The media circulates certain selves...
...They complain that teachers in public schools in Buenos Aires build stereotypes according to the children's ethnic and national backgrounds...
...They facilitate the necessary unification and promoted by the government...
...I hired, they return the next day...
...Immigrants were blamed for the rise in delinquency and insecurity...
...6 A systematic campaign to arrest immigrants was implemented: In a single precinct, more than 100,000 people were detained over a period of 19 days for not having work permits...
...The markets and fairs are part of a ernment's xenophobic campaign, the Latin American debate over the meaning of Bolivian identity-viewed Confederation was created to unite several federations of negatively by Argentine society but reaffirmed with pride diverse immigrant groups in Argentina...
...Between 1869 and the present, a of the population has consisted of people countries, though the percentage has bee higher in the larger cities over the last According to a February 1999 report by t of Labor, the number of immigrants in th Metropolitan Area (Federal District and Aires) decreased between 1993 and 1998 7.8% of the total population.' A fierce xenophobic campaign has used immigrant workers as scapegoats for the social crisis...
...9. "Menem dijo que los inmigrantes ilegales deberdn irse del pals...
...Although fear and resignation prevail among incoming groups, wide sectors of immigrants who have been in the country for years create organizations and coordinate events that strengthen social ties and stimulate collective action...
...Enrique Oteiza, Susana Novick, and Roberto Aruj, Inmigraci6n y discriminaci6n...
...Out of the 63% that consider racism to be a characteristic of Argentine society, 50.5% think that "Argentines don't like Bolivians...
...Across the street, some Peruvians a laborers also wait...
...Various sectors in society join the Bolivian community in protesting against xenophobic campaigns and provoking intense national debate...
...Politicas y discursos (Buenos Aires: Universitaria, 1997...
...At the same rights, has increased steadily in the last three decades...
...Encuesta Latinobar6metro, Clarin, November 19, 1996, p. 15...
...These factors were the responsibility of the "bolitas" (a derogatory Argentine term for Bolivians) because they stole jobs from Argentines...
...Some workers stated that "they (the foreigners) are to blame for our low wages...
...the construction of "Bolivian spaces" that can transcend According to the immigrants, "being Bolivian" is felt local barriers...
...As long as the belief that "being an immigrant makes you a suspect" or that "being an immigrant makes you a delinquent" exists in the institutions responsible for maintaining order, racial profiling will increase the number of arrests and therefore distort the actual number of criminal acts committed by immiti r d grants...
...Santiago Kovadloff, "Delito oportuno...
...While the number of migrants coming into the the same pro- country has not varied significantly, the social and ecoeen the Andean nomic expectations of Argentines have lowered...
...However, ize to the old because of unemployment, Argentines are now willing to however, that settle for lower-paying jobs under worse labor condibeen going on tions...
...A Hard Road for Argentina's Bolivians 1. Ismael Bermidez, "Hay menos inmigrantes que vienen por trabajo", Clarin (Buenos Aires), February 14, 1999, p. 20...
...35, Buenos Aires, April 1997, pp...
...eighborhood of Notwithstanding those statistics, five years ago this sonts wait on a called "new migration" was explained by the neoliberal ne textile man- government of Carlos Menem as an unanticipated result ie or two days of the entry of Argentina into the "First World...
...Markets and fairs have flourished in cities with a substantial Bolivian presence...
...phobic campaigns from national and local governments entries has var- as well as from some labor unions...
...improve the living conditions of immigrants, especially Celebrations such as the patron saint's day of those who are facing greater difficulties, by promoting Urkupifia, Copacabana and Socav6n, which covers sev- health centers in neighborhoods with a high Bolivian eral cities from Jujuy in the north to Buenos Aires, give population and solving documentation problems...
...Some restaurants and discotheques can also be constituted civil associations...
...His latest book is Relatos de la diferencia bolivianos en Buenos Aires (Eudeba, 1999...
...At the same time, of course, including civil associations that defend neighborhood it isolates Bolivians from Peruvians, Paraguayans and rights and social groups such as the Bolivian Textile Argentines from the provinces, who live similar situaWorkers...
...Authorities often explained this -16 hour work- as the result of a new "migratory wave," although rigorn to wait on the ous studies showed that even if the recent immigrants become easily returned to their countries, unemployment rates would ng misery of decrease by only 1%.2 y adds to their Bolivians and other migrants have historically benefited from certain niches in the labor market that general popula- Argentines were not willing to occupy (certain construci phenomenon, tion, textile, domestic and street-related jobs...
...Even though a few administration officials wanted to deal with migration issues in a democratic and pluralistic way, discrimination and exclusion are not just a product of discourse, they are effects of a judicial, symbolic and social structure that continues to reproduce itself...
...According to a poll done by the Department of Population of the Interior Ministry "the percentage of convicted foreigners is 4.6% of the total...
...Secretary of State Guido di Tella anticipated that born in border "in the year 2020, 20% of the population [in Argentina] :n considerably will be Bolivian or Paraguayan," and stated that "we three decades...
...The "music of the nation" and the Bolivianidad a way to extend their solidarity networks to constant references to "national traditions" form imagi- help them find homes, work and ways to legalize themnary roots on foreign soil...
...Ninety one percent thought that foreigners were detrimental to the labor conditions of Argentines and half the people polled approved of the deportation of "illegal immigrants...
...Translated from the Spanish by Carmen Burban "fwrio noruiis ob srbte mn Vol XXXV, No 2 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001 33REPORT ON RACE AND MIGRATION the labor unions were to blame for the lack of jobs, low wages or accidents in the work place...
...10...
...While arrests are performed by the police, convictions can only be obtained through the justice system...
...1 2 By the end of the 1990s, 63% responded affirmatively when asked: "Do you think Argentines are racist...
...7. "Menem dijo que los inmigrantes ilegales deberan irse del pals," Clarin, January 21, 1999, pp...
...Statistics show, migration from Bolivia to Argentina has for over a hundred years in more or less portions...
...These conflicts, however, related to the stereotypes of immigrants being "inferior" or "dangerous," have not gone unchallenged...
...1 0 From this perspective, the government submitted a bill to Congress which would increase punishment for those who helped illegal migrants enter the country, penalize companies that employed illegal workers, facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants and give the government power to onalism has regulate criteria related to the admission of foreigners into the esource in country...
...Then a few days later, they will return same corner...
...During the 1990s unemployment to one of the rates increased from 6% to finally stabilize around 15% F they don't get according to official figures, not counting the rising get work, they underemployment rates...
...As the sun rises in a working class neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Bolivian immigra street comer for Korean or Argenti ufacturers to come and hire them for on work...
...Indeed, migration patterns betwe region and the Southern Cone go back to Reliable data concerning the presenc migrants in Argentine territory dates 1 Immigration to Argentina from border coi ied depending on economic factors such a ket and the exchange rate, and on certain as well...
...8. "Menem dijo que los inmigrantes ilegales deberan irse del pais...
...34 -35...
...While those detained are only suspects of a crime, those convicted have been found guilty...
...In iscrimination...
...Therefore, the cele- The combination of social exclusionary practices and brations take place in visible places such as certain pop- the new urban-focused destinations create the need for ular neighborhoods or even in downtown Buenos Aires...
...This and other immigration bills are pending in Congress...
...cal resource in confronting a society that discriminates Bolivian social organizations have flourished as well, against Bolivian immigrants...
...and a positive attitude by Bolivians...
...5. "Masiva marcha por la vida de los obreros de la construcci6n," Clarin, June 8, 1998, p. 8. 6. "En la Argentina no hay discriminaci6n," Clarin, February 6, 1999, p. 39...
Vol. 35 • September 2001 • No. 2
