The steady flow of immigrants leaving Northern Central America reflects the grim realities of life for millions of children and their families from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Crushing poverty. Endemic crime. Gang-related violence, extortion and forced recruitment. High rates of domestic violence and sexual abuse of girls. Scarce social services. Limited opportunities to learn, or to earn a living. The desire of children to be with their parents, who are already working in the U.S.
These are the conditions that prompt men, women and children to abandon their homes and embark on dangerous journeys to destinations to the north and south.
Many blame the rise of organized crime, which flourished in the wake of civil wars in the region, leaving many people unemployed and with easy access to weapons. Violence increased further in the late 1990s after the U.S. deported numerous members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18, two notorious gangs that originated in Los Angeles. Read more