Seeking refuge: Central American migration to Mexico, the United States, and Canada / María Cristina García

"The political upheaval in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala had a devastating human toll at the end of the twentieth century. A quarter of a million people died during the period 1974-1996. Many of those who survived the wars chose temporary refuge in neighboring countries such as Honduras and Costa Rica. Others traveled far north, to Mexico, the United States, and Canada in search of safety. Over two million of those who fled Central America during this period settled in these three countries. In this incisive book, María Cristina García tells the story of that migration and how domestic and foreign policy interests shaped the asylum policies of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. She describes the experiences of the individuals and non-governmental organizations--primarily church groups and human rights organizations--that responded to the refugee crisis, and worked within and across borders to shape refugee policy. These transnational advocacy networks collected testimonies, documented the abuses of states, re-framed national debates about immigration, pressed for changes in policy, and ultimately provided a voice for the displaced. García concludes by addressing the legacies of the Central American refugee crisis, especially recent attempts to coordinate a regional response to the unique problems presented by immigrants and refugees--and the challenges of coordinating such a regional response in the post-9/11 era"--Provided by publisher Contents......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 1. The Wars in Central America and the Refugee Crisis......Page 30 2. Designing a Refugee Policy: Mexico as Country of First Asylum......Page 61 3. Refugees or Economic Migrants? The Debate over Accountability in the United States......Page 101 4. Humanitarianism and Politics: Canada Opens Its Doors to Central America......Page 136 Conclusion: Shared Responsibility? Legacies ofthe Central American Refugee Crisis......Page 174 Notes......Page 186 Selected Bibliography......Page 252 Index......Page 272 In this incisive book, María Cristina García tells the story of the migration caused by the political upheaval in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemal and the resulting domestic and foreign policy interests that shaped the asylum policies of Mexico, the United States, and Canada Tells the story of the 20th-century Central American migration, and how domestic and foreign policy interests shaped the asylum policies of Mexico, the United States, and Canada The revolutions in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala were each the product of decades of struggles over land, resources, and power. María Cristina García. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 235-254) And Index.