Expanding rights in the current Argentinian migration law. An evaluation from Sen´s ideas.

Vanina Modolo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)

Migration is broadly associated with vulnerability. This link applies mainly to migrants with irregular status. That is because, while legal migrants have usually equal rights as nationals have (excepting some political rights), in many countries those with irregular status are denied basic ones. This was the case of Argentina till 2003, when a new Migration Law passed by the Parliament, bringing a major change in the matter. This study evaluates this law as a positive step, following Sen´s ideas. This author argues that the expansion of real freedoms is a mean and end of development, a main factor to mitigate vulnerability, and any policy evaluation should follow this criteria.The case of Argentina is important since it receives many flows from the region, hosting thousands of immigrants within its borders.