Crime, Violence, and Migration in Latin America--Dr. Amelia Frank-Vitale

In this episode, Dr. Jonathan D. Rosen interviews Dr. Amelia Frank-Vitale, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs at Princeton University and author of Leave If You Can: Migration and Violence in Bordered Worlds. Drawing on years of ethnographic fieldwork in Honduras and Mexico, Dr. Frank-Vitale explores the complex relationship between crime, violence, migration, deportation, gangs, and state fragility in Latin America. She discusses how organized crime shapes everyday life in Honduras, the risks migrants face during their journeys, the realities of deportation, and why understanding migration requires a nuanced, human-centered perspective. The conversation also examines gang governance, criminal organizations, gender and migration, corruption, democracy, state capacity, and the long-term policies needed to address migration's root causes. If you're interested in migration, organized crime, Latin American politics, anthropology, border studies, or international affairs, this is a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion. 📚 Featured Book: Leave If You Can: Migration and Violence in Bordered Worlds If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews with leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners studying crime, violence, security, migration, and foreign policy around the world. #Migration #Honduras #LatinAmerica #Crime #Violence #OrganizedCrime #Anthropology #Borders #Deportation #Gangs #MS13 #MigrationStudies #InternationalAffairs #PrincetonUniversity #CentralAmerica Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:01 Introducing Dr. Amelia Frank-Vital 00:59 Crime, violence, and migration in the Northern Triangle 01:57 Why local context matters: Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico 02:43 Gang control, surveillance, and neighborhood governance in Honduras 03:08 Migration as a "last best resort" 04:07 How gangs contribute to migration and insecurity 05:50 Risks migrants face during migration journeys 06:18 Coyotes, smuggling networks, and migration routes 07:30 Kidnapping, extortion, and dangers in Mexico 08:40 Why migrants view smugglers as risk mitigators 09:29 Women, gender, and migration vulnerabilities 10:11 Why the book focuses on young Honduran men 11:13 Violence, victimization, and gendered experiences of insecurity 12:50 State fragility, corruption, and migration pressures 14:24 Democracy, governance, and public disillusionment in Honduras 16:06 Historical roots of weak state capacity 17:09 Hurricane Mitch and mass migration 18:07 Gang governance and the absence of the state 19:12 Extortion, order, and neighborhood control 20:08 Criminal governance and local authority 21:12 How gangs resolve disputes in some communities 22:30 Gangs as reflections of broader social realities 23:05 Why U.S. and European gang models do not always apply 23:52 Differences between gangs across Central America 24:38 Honduras' unique criminal landscape 25:52 Deportation and the challenges of return 27:18 Why deportation often leads to more migration 28:57 Returning to the same vulnerabilities and dangers 29:24 Relocation challenges inside Honduras 30:33 Why many deportees immediately plan to migrate again 30:54 Long-term policy solutions and development challenges 31:34 Investing in education and generational change 32:57 Why migration is not a problem to be solved 33:24 Addressing root causes rather than migration itself 33:40 Final reflections 34:04 Closing remarks Bio: Dr. Amelia Frank-Vitale is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs at Princeton University. An anthropologist of migration, violence, and borders, her research examines the promises and failures of the post-war conventions designed to offer protection to people outside their countries of citizenship. Her book, Leave If You Can: Migration and Violence in Bordered Worlds, examines how Honduran youth navigate life after deportation, illuminating the changing nature of deportation as a consequence of the externalization of borders and connecting regimes of mobility control - and the creative ways people challenge them - across scale and space. Check out more videos at:    / @drjonathandrosen