Relief Dollars: U.S. Policies toward Central Americans, 1980s to Present

ESTER E. HERNANDEZ

INTRODUCTION Although few Central Americans ever received refugee status, as nationals of countries designated by the U.S. government as critical to its "national interest" and foreign policy aims, they have received various temporary protections short of full legal status. These temporary measures were intended to allow them to work legally in the United States, with the expectation that they would return home when the political and economic situation in their countries improved. Despite these restrictions, Central Americans have grown in numbers and have formed vibrant communities that challenge the expectation of return to their homelands. Moreover, they have become key contributors to their national economies through the monies they send home. Their respective countries seek and admire the flow of dollars, while they fear the potential disruption to their economies should there be massive deportations from the United States. Meanwhile, most of these temporary residents are denied full membership in the U.S. polity due to their ambiguous legal status.