Border Insecurity in Central America's Northern Triangle
Border insecurity in northern Central America reflects chronic state neglect, not just trafficking. Governance-centered solutions, more than border controls, are necessary.
The problem of border insecurity in northern Central America is not new. Governments in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have historically neglected their hinterlands and porous borders, with Mexican-based trafficking cartels being only the latest to take advantage of the uncontrolled borders.
Border insecurity issues are rooted in long-standing regional quandaries such as a paucity of resources, weak and corrupt governments, and economies and political systems that neglect peripheral regions.
These challenges will not be overcome overnight. Arguing that a focus on the borders per se is misleading, the authors sketch a number of policy recommendations, including the need to focus on providing state presence, services, and security to the neglected areas.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction: Neglected Borders, from the Colonial Era to the Present
II. Border Insecurity in Central America's Northern Triangle
III. The Socioeconomic Dynamics of Border Communities
IV. Types of Illicit Trafficking
V. Regional Border Control Efforts and Challenges
A. Border Security Policies and Programs at the National Level
B. Border Security Policies and Programs at the Bilateral Level
C. Border Security Policies and Programs at the Multilateral Level Regionally
VI. Recommendations for Improved Border Security Policies and Practices
A. Differentiate among the Problems of Violence, Illicit Trafficking, and Organized Crime
B. Focus on Improving Security in Border Regions, instead of Border Security
C. Create New National and Regional Security Frameworks
D. Improve Systems for Information Sharing and Coordination
E. Involve Local Governments
VII. Conclusion
About the Regional Migration Study Group
This forward-looking initiative focused on shaping collaborative migration and human-capital strategies in North and Central America.
About the U.S. Immigration Policy Program
The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides analysis of U.S. immigration pathways, the impacts of enforcement and other policies, and the characteristics of immigrant populations.
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