Government Corruption in the Northern Triangle of Central America as a Major Factor in the Immigration Crisis in the United States

Author

Kenia Rodriguez, St. Mary's UniversityFollow

Degree Level

B.A.

Program

Political Science

First Advisor

Smith, Betsy

Second Advisor

Langston, Camille

Medium

pdf

LCSH subject

Government -- Corrupt practices -- Central America; Poverty -- Central America; Gangs -- Central America; Impunity

Abstract

Immigration trends to the United States from Central America are often blamed on violence and insecurity created by cartels and street gangs. However, corruption in the government system in Central America is an understudied factor that might influence immigration from the region. This article adds to the literature on immigration by proposing that government corruption in the Northern Triangle is an important “push” factor which leads individuals to emigrate to the United States. Incorporating the role of corruption in our understanding of why we see large numbers of individuals fleeing their home countries to enter the United States provides us an opportunity to revise policy solutions to reduce immigration. Keywords: Immigration, Central America, Poverty, Street Gangs, Corruption, Impunity.

Publication Date

Spring 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, K. (2024). "Government Corruption in the Northern Triangle of Central America as a Major Factor in the Immigration Crisis in the United States" [Honor Thesis, St. Mary's University].

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.