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Download Free Central Americans in Mexico and the United States PDF by Sergio Aguayo Full Book and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 77 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study compares the Mexican and US responses to the massive influx of Central Americans over the past decade. It underscores the pervasive confusion and disagreement in both countries over the appropriate criteria and jurisdictions for decision-making. The authors state that approximately 87 to 88 percent of all Central Americans who have left their respective countries are in either Mexico or the United States. They show that recognition of a refugee or group of refugees is not always based on an evaluation of the causes of flight, but that foreign policy considerations and domestic political factors are equally important in determining the reaction of the receiving country. An argument is made that although the United States and Mexico have different cultures and political systems, their responses to the Central American outflow have been similar, partly humanitarian, partly restrictionist. However, the restrictionist views have been modified because of divisions within the public and private sectors. A special section, within the analysis of Central Americans in Mexico, treats the problem of the recognition of Guatemalans as refugees and other Central Americans not recognized as refugees. Coping with first-asylum entries is briefly treated in the analysis of Central Americans in the United States, as well as certain tensions between the UNHCR and the United States over jurisdiction and policies. In the conclusions, the authors compare the US and Mexican responses, maintaining that neither government has addressed the question of its abortive capacity seriously, and make several recommendations for improving the situation.