Latin Americans fleeing violence face movement restrictions, exploitation, and asylum barriers, according to a new report.
7 things you should know about displacement in Latin America
The report, conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and partners through the ProLAC initiative, is based on a survey of 3,611 households across nine countries. It reveals that conflict and violence in Latin America are forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, while armed and criminal groups continue to restrict their movement and take advantage of their vulnerabilities.
Refugees face barriers to asylum and risk being deported, enduring abuses like extortion and gender-based violence. Discrimination and xenophobia complicate their search for safety and access to rights and services.
Here are seven things you need to know about displacement in Latin America:
1. Conflict and violence continue to force people to flee their homes – and restrict their freedom of movement
One in 5 people living in conflict zones and other violent situations told us they had been forced to flee their homes. Since January 2025, over 56,000 people have been displaced in Colombia's El Catatumbo region alone due to intensified violence. Forced displacement also took place in other Latin American countries during this period, including Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Ecuador.
The main reasons for fleeing include threats and intimidation, the presence of armed groups, insecurity and generalised violence, and fear of persecution.
At the same time, almost one-third of those affected by conflict and violence told us their freedom of movement had been restricted. Such restrictions are linked to territorial control by different actors, including non-state armed groups, criminal groups, and even state forces.
The report, conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and partners through the ProLAC initiative, is based on a survey of 3,611 households across nine countries. It reveals that conflict and violence in Latin America are forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, while armed and criminal groups continue to restrict their movement and take advantage of their vulnerabilities.
Refugees face barriers to asylum and risk being deported, enduring abuses like extortion and gender-based violence. Discrimination and xenophobia complicate their search for safety and access to rights and services.
Here are seven things you need to know about displacement in Latin America:
1. Conflict and violence continue to force people to flee their homes – and restrict their freedom of movement
One in 5 people living in conflict zones and other violent situations told us they had been forced to flee their homes. Since January 2025, over 56,000 people have been displaced in Colombia's El Catatumbo region alone due to intensified violence. Forced displacement also took place in other Latin American countries during this period, including Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Ecuador.
The main reasons for fleeing include threats and intimidation, the presence of armed groups, insecurity and generalised violence, and fear of persecution.
At the same time, almost one-third of those affected by conflict and violence told us their freedom of movement had been restricted. Such restrictions are linked to territorial control by different actors, including non-state armed groups, criminal groups, and even state forces.
2. Asylum options are limited for refugees and migrants fleeing their home country
When refugees and migrants flee their home country in search of safety, they often have no choice but to cross the border via irregular routes, sometimes even hiding from the authorities. This is because many states in Latin America restrict access to their territory, preventing people who are fleeing danger or persecution from entering and staying safely.
International protection means giving displaced people a safe place to live, where they can enjoy basic rights, live freely, and eventually overcome their vulnerable situation. According to international law, states are forbidden from returning refugees, asylum seekers or migrants to a place where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.
However, various countries in the region continue to limit access to asylum and are deporting refugees and migrants without due process. This is particularly concerning as 1 in 4 of the people we spoke to said their lives would be at risk if they returned to their place of origin.
3. Lack of information is preventing people from claiming asylum
Many refugees and migrants miss out on claiming asylum because they do not realise they qualify for international protection or understand how to navigate the complex process. Half of the people we spoke to who had not claimed asylum had no idea what it meant or where to find information about it.
Other significant barriers exist. Asylum systems are often deficient and overwhelmed, involving lengthy and heavily bureaucratic processes. The requirements for claiming asylum can be almost impossible to meet for some people (for instance, holding a valid passport or ID, or raising an asylum claim within a short period of time).
If asylum seekers do succeed in making a claim, they often face restrictions while their claim is being reviewed, such as not being allowed to work.
4. Refugees and migrants are exposed to abuses, including extortion and kidnapping
Without the opportunity to enter a country safely, refugees and migrants are forced to take irregular routes, which are often incredibly dangerous and sometimes facilitated by smugglers. This put them at great risk of abuse and exploitation.
Half of the families we spoke to had experienced abuses during their journey. Extortion is a particular concern in Peru, Guatemala and Mexico. And among the families reporting abuses in Mexico, 40 per cent told us they had been subject to kidnapping.
Additionally, a quarter of families reported that they had been victims of theft and had their property, including their phones, confiscated or destroyed. These incidents often happen alongside other abuses, such as kidnapping and gender-based violence, with women and girls being the most affected.
5. Refugees and migrants face discrimination and xenophobia when they reach their destination
Four out of 10 of the refugees and migrants we interviewed had faced discrimination, xenophobia or stigmatisation, mostly from local communities. The issue is especially severe in Peru, where 6 in 10 experience these challenges. This makes it difficult for them to access public services like education, healthcare, employment and housing.
One quarter of the refugees and migrants we spoke to had previously been displaced to a different country from the one they were currently living in. Of these, half had fled again due to discrimination. In other words, these people had to leave the new country they tried to settle in because of discrimination, seeking safety and better opportunities elsewhere.
6. Women and girls face gender-based violence – before, during and after their journey
Women and girls often face violence because of their gender, especially in conflict zones. Shockingly, 1 in 5 women and girls in contexts affected by conflict and violence experience gender-based violence, while 1 in 10 face it during their journey or in destination countries.
Single-parent families led by women are especially vulnerable to gender-based violence. Violence against women is most prevalent in Colombia and Ecuador.
For women and girls who experience gender-based violence during their journey, the main perpetrators are members of organised criminal groups, members of non-state armed groups and smugglers, as well as authorities such as the police. Women kidnapped during their journey are more likely to also suffer sexual violence, particularly in Mexico.
7. Governments can do better
Addressing these challenges require political will, commitment and a coordinated effort from everyone involved. Governments, civil society organisations and donors must take immediate action to address the critical situation of people forced to flee in Latin America.
Providing safe access to asylum, protecting displaced people from the dangers they have fled from, and ensuring their rights are respected are essential steps to help them rebuild their lives.
About the survey methodology
This web article is based on a ProLAC report analysing data collected between 1 October 2024 and 31 January 2025 across nine countries in Latin America: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The quantitative data includes survey results from over 20 locations within these countries, encompassing 3,611 households and representing 11,172 people in total. The qualitative data is derived from 138 key informant interviews, focus groups and direct observation reports. The data was collected by NRC, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Encuentros SJM, Alianza Vencer and Corporación Colectiva Justicia Mujer.
ProLAC employs the Protection Analytical Framework developed by the Global Protection Cluster (GPC). The identified protection risks are based on the 15 risks classified by the GPC, contextualised for the Latin American region. The analysis aims to provide plausible explanations to guide the targeting of public policies and the implementation of protection and humanitarian assistance programmes.
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About ProLAC
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid, have created the ProLAC Initiative.
This project offers a unified system for monitoring the protection risks faced by people forced to flee across Latin America. It helps create better protection plans based on solid evidence, improving responses at regional, national and local levels.
ProLAC's system makes coordination easier by providing consistent data and information across different countries. It is open to other humanitarian organisations, and three additional partners are currently part of the initiative. For more information, visit the ProLAC website.