Managing migrants’ spaces after emigration: Caracas, Departure City

Abstract

The deterioration of living conditions in Venezuela has triggered an unprecedented migratory crisis. More than seven million Venezuelans have fled the country. While a continental refugee crisis and an emergent diaspora have received attention, the local impact of emigration remains unexplored. Locally, emigration manifests itself as an ever-growing and unique vacancy. In Caracas, migrants’ left-behind domestic spaces are managed through relational, trust-based, and dynamic practices that revolve around their preservation and reinvention, implicating local actors in the migration process and creating new forms of transnational cooperation. This article examines emergent practices of care in Caracas. It presents an overview of the Venezuelan crisis and the disciplinary frameworks for examining the impact of emigration on urban development. Through interviews and photography, the research offers accounts of cuidadores and highlights their role in protecting and reinventing migrants’ domestic spaces. Preliminary findings show the important role that local actors play in supporting migration and the use of vacant spaces to satisfy local needs. These findings also suggest potential spatial and urban transformations taking place through practices of care and cooperation in a context of emigration and collapse.