Migration Motivated by More Than Just Poverty and Violence

The Pulte Institute's research network, CARA (Central America Research Alliance), co-directed by Senior Researchers Estela Rivero and Tom Hare, delivers answers on why so many young Hondurans are heading north. In a recent article for The Conversation, Rivero discusses "multisystem resilience" — the availability of social resources and support networks — as a critical factor motivating young Hondurans (those ages 16 to 29) to migrate.

Young Hondurans, photographed in Chiapas, Mexico, journey to the U.S. seeking better opportunities. CARA research shows migration is influenced by resilience, including social resources and local support. Despite having jobs and safety networks at home, many are driven to pursue better prospects elsewhere. Credit: Jesus Alvarado/Alamy

Based on CARA’s research with colleague Laura Miller-Graff and published in the peer-reviewed journal International Migration, Rivero writes that young workers with strong support networks are more likely to relocate to the United States for enhanced prospects — challenging conventional wisdom.

“When youth are employed and have the economic and social resources to think beyond immediate needs, they are more likely to want to seek better opportunities elsewhere. Multisystem resilience gives them the resources to consider migration as an attainable option.”

Understanding the connection between resilience and migration intentions is crucial for reducing the desire to undertake dangerous journeys to the United States. CARA uses this insight to identify the root causes behind why individuals from Honduras and other Central American countries are reluctant to remain tied to a specific location.

“Young people feel torn between leaving loved ones — and being able to provide for their families with remittances — or staying in Honduras and betting on a future of uncertainty,” Rivero says. “In many ways, Hondurans are between a rock and a hard place because both options present difficult choices.”

See Rivero's The Conversation article

About CARA:
CARA (Central America Research Alliance) is a scholarly partnership between the University of Notre Dame and over a dozen Central American institutions. It emphasizes the importance of locally-produced scientific knowledge, focusing on context-sensitive research into poverty reduction, democracy, human rights and governance, migration management and security. CARA's findings effectively answer critical questions, providing essential insights for advocacy programs and policy development.