Venezuelan migrations in Colombia: Transformations in urban spaces in two major Colombian metropolises, Bogota and Cali

GLORIA RAMIREZ, PhD Candidate

Colombia has historically been a country marked by emigration and the circulation of its population, with Venezuela once serving as a primary destination for Colombian migrants. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically in the late 2010s, as Venezuela's economic decline, coupled with social and political instability, triggered an unprecedented migration flow. In this context, Colombia emerged as the main host country for the Venezuelan diaspora. This paper aims to examine the spatial and demographic transformations resulting from Venezuelan migration in Colombia, with a particular focus on urban change through a spatiotemporal demographic lens. The study explores the relationship between international migration and urban dynamics in two of Colombia's largest metropolises—Bogotá and Cali—through two key dimensions. The first considers the spatial distribution of migrants within urban areas and their access to resources provided by these cities. The second focuses on the role of migrants as active agents in shaping urban spaces, contributing to the production of the city as residents integrated into local neighborhoods.

Keywords: International Migration, Migrant Populations and Refugees, Spatial Demography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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