WHY DO COLOMBIANS EMIGRATE?

By: Gabriel José Gonzalez Granela

Due forced displacement; resulted of the armed conflict with guerrillas, search of

better quality life, or academics issues are common reasons that Colombians have

had to emigrate to countries on South America, North America even countries on

Europe or Asia.

Since the late 50´s Colombia suffered a conflict between illegal armed groups as

Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia F.A.R.C. and the National Army of

Colombia, it took place on rural areas of the country, forcing families to abandon

their lands and become political refugees in countries such as Spain or United States

of America. A second period of emigration, especially to United States ocurred

between 1960 and 1970 replied on 90´s. Based on economic factors and posibilities

to get better jobs and wages. In this period most of people had high educational

level, good english skills, and belonged to a middle – high class.

Currently Colombians emigrate to different countries around the world for academic

purposes that will give them opportunities to find a job with better remuneration in

their origin country or in some cases an opportunity living abroad i the destination

country for several years, having a total cultural inmersion.

In conclusion, migration is a social, cultural, economic and political phenomenon that

will probably not end, due to the fact that people in countries like Colombia have the

need to improve their quiality life, academic and economic status and the only way

to achieve it is migrate to new places and start a new life away from their families.