The Rise (and Fall?) of the Central American Ghost Visas: Plantation Capitalism and the State in 21st Century Captive Labor Programs

Abstract (English)

Beginning with a 2019 deal between the Trump White House and the Guatemalan Giammattei administration, and accelerating through the Biden (US), Lopez Obrador (Mexican) and Arevalo (Guatemalan) administrations, promises of expanding Central Americans’ access to H2 temporary contract labor programs were a central part of multilateral projects to contain, capture, and control migrant workers traveling and laboring in the North American migrant corridor. However, the number and pathways of these visas were often vague and contradictory- revealing fundamental contradictions between the role of private employers and state actors in the management of US captive labor programs. I explore the rise and (possible) fall of what I call the Central American “ghost” visas, based on analysis of public statements about the program, visits with H2 workers in the United States, and interviews with NGO’s and recruiters struggling for influence over the H2 expansion in Guatemala.