ALBERTO MEOUCHI

Central American Migration

Motivations, Costs, and Outcomes

RoleDesigner, Researcher, Data Analysis.

Team and Partners
  • MIT’s Civic Data Design Lab
  • United Nations World Food Programme
Project DescriptionData visualization techniques used in this project were crafted to effectively communicate the findings of this migration study to policymakers and the general public. The project aims to expand legal pathways for migrants, and its data visualizations were presented at a U.S. Congressional hearing in November 2021. Subsequently, research from this project was cited in a letter signed by thirty-three U.S. Senators advocating for equitable actions to support humanitarian needs in Central America. This letter, which called for Temporary Protected Status designations for northern Central American countries, contributed to policy action in June 2022 when Vice President Kamala Harris announced the Call to Action for Northern Central America.

The number of refugees and asylum-seekers from northern Central America has surged in the past five years, driven by factors such as food insecurity, violence, and climate variability. With over 47,000 asylum-seekers from Central America worldwide, the trend of migration due to destitution is expected to continue into 2021. This research examines the factors influencing people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to migrate, both irregularly and regularly, as well as the economic costs and implications for households and communities in the region.

A survey administered by the WFP in Spring 2021 covered 5,000 households in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Analysis of the data reveals that migration from Central America cost nearly 2.2 billion dollars in 2020. Migrants raise these funds through various means, including support from family and friends abroad and bank loans. Compounding the financial burden, only 57% of migrants reach their intended destination. The primary reason for migration is economic, with migrants unable to provide basic needs for their families. Remittances, which are crucial for survival, typically cover only basic needs. The research highlights that while migrants bear the economic cost of migration, both the U.S. and the migrants' countries of origin benefit economically.Websitemigration.mit.edu
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Alberto Meouchi
2024