Protecting the vulnerable: How migrant regularization reduces crime and empowers women

This paper examines the impacts of a regularization program that granted temporary economic rights to over 281,000 undocumented Venezuelan forced migrants in Colombia. The program resulted in a general reduction in crimes committed by forced migrants, while also increasing the number of domestic abuse and sex crimes female migrants reported. These findings suggest that empowerment and greater trust in local authorities are key mechanisms driving the behavioral changes for females, while proper enforcement facilitated by adequate documentation and the positive income effects of the program reduced the general propensity for migrants to commit crimes. • Regularization of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia increased crime reporting. • Results driven by migrant women, especially sexual and domestic crimes. • No evidence regularization raised crime; overall migrant crime actually declined. • Our interpretation: legal status improved trust, leading to higher crime reporting.