Investing in Alternatives to Irregular Migration from Central America: Options to Expand U.S. Employment Pathways

The increased number of Central American migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border has clearly demonstrated that the United States, Mexico, and migrant-origin countries in Central America—particularly El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—face a long-term challenge to promote orderly and managed migration in the region. Given that some Central Americans are fleeing persecution and threats of violence, a well-considered response needs to involve effective humanitarian protection mechanisms. Other Central Americans move primarily for economic reasons, though opportunities to do so legally are out of reach for most.

This policy brief examines how the United States can build employment-based pathways for people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who might otherwise migrate irregularly. The United States has one major category of seasonal employment-based visas, the H-2 programs, but to date it has only been used to recruit relatively limited numbers of Central American workers. This brief looks at the components of the H-2A and H-2B visa programs, existing systems to recruit Guatemalan and Honduran workers through these legal channels, and the challenges that have limited the programs’ expansion in Central America. The brief also explores short-, medium-, and long-term policy options for the United States and its regional partners to remedy these issues and to address the needs of both employers and migrants.

Para leer este informe en español, haga clic aquí.