Política pública de la migración en el Departamento del Valle del Cauca: ¿Cómo se está tratando el tema de la migración internacional, en el Departamento del Valle del Cauca hasta el 2009?

The present working paper is an adopted version of the authors’ thesis completed in December 2009 at Icesi University in Santiago de Cali- Colombia. The article studies the Colombian Public Policy for Integral Migration (PIM) and its effects in the department of Valle del Cauca. A particular attention is given to the discussion of the relations between the national authority and the departmental government and the impact of a nationally-designed public policy on the society of the region. The document is divided in four topics. First, a conceptual framework devoted to the concept of international migration. Second, a historical of the process of migration in the Department of Valle del Cauca is described for the past 30 years. Third, the paper analyzes the Conpes 3603, document approved by the National Government and designed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to estimate its influence on government policies in the Department of Valle del Cauca. Fourth, the paper discusses some of the most relevant organizations working with the government of Valle del Cauca (Colombia) in order to develop a public policy on international migration within the department.