International Migration: North American Triangle

• The North American Triangle:

  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Honduras
  • Violence is high, up to 50% people report a violent death of a relative.
• Reasons for migration:

  • Economics:
  • 71% of survey respondents said economic concerns were the main reason behind migrating.
  • Victimization:
  • Having been a victim or knowing someone who has been a victim in crime makes an individual 50% more likely to migrate.
  • Youth:
  • Across 3 countries, 36.7% of youth intent to migrate.
  • 18-29 yr olds are twice as likely to migrate than 30+ yr olds.
  • 52% of young Honduras women intend to migrate - 40% of men.
  • Transnational Ties:
  • Existence of family in other countries e.g. the US.
  • 3% acknowledged this as a reason they'd migrate.
• Guatemala:

  Population - 17.4mn

  GNI per capita - 5,473

  Death Rate - 4.7

  Infant Mortality Rate - 18

  % of pop under 15 - 33%

  Life Expectancy - 69

  Net Migration - -9,110
• Honduras:

  Population - 10,800,000

  GNI per capita - $2,360

  Death Rate - 4.48

  Infant Mortality Rate - 12.8

  % of pop under 15 - 37%

  Life Expectancy - 71

  Net Migration - -4,675
• El Salvador:

  Population - 6.4mn

  GNI per capita - $4,200

  Death Rate - 6.85

  Infant Mortality Rate - 10

  % of pop under 15 - 27%

  Life Expectancy - 74

  Net Migration - -23,000
• USA:

  Population - 343mn

  GNI per capita - $76,000

  Death Rate - 8.4

  Infant Mortality Rate - 4.9

  % of pop under 15 - 20.1%

  Life Expectancy - 78

  Net Migration - 1mn
• Characteristics of migration stream:

  • Median Age - 40yrs.
  • 265,000 leave annually.
  • California, Texas and Florida are destinations.
  • 63,000 unaccompanied children in 2014.
  • 37% of US asylum seekers are from Central America.
  • 3.5mn central American population in 2017.
• The Journey:

  • 'Migration Caravans' - Groups of migrants who travel to a destination as one.
  • 3000 mile journey featuring 7000 Honduras migrants.
  • 20,000 migrants and refugees have been kidnapped in Northern Triangle countries.
• MS-13 and Barrio 18:

  • Came from Salvadorian exiles who moved to LA to escape civil war in 1980s.
  • Sent back to El Salvador in 1992 took gang culture with them.
  • MS-13 is one of the most violent and most organised US gangs.
• Extortion in NAT:

  • Worth $1.1bn.
  • Mostly done by MS13 and Barrio 18.
  • 100,000 extortion complaints in 11 yrs in Guatemala alone.
  • Transport extortion has become deadly - 40 transport workers killed in 2022.
  • El Salvador extortion run by prison gangs which are growing due to 'Iron Fist' policy adopted by government.
• Corruption in El Salvador:

  • Civil war ended in 1992.
  • 2 most recent Presidents accused of embezzling $300mn each.
  • Enormous amount of money considering GDP is $24.8bn.