At the Intersection of Foreign and Domestic Policy: The United States and Central America During the Cold War and the Rise of the Gang Wars

<p>Today's intense debates surrounding immigration at the U.S. southern border, frequently framed as an "invasion," often overshadow the complex historical forces driving migration. Much of the conversation oversimplifies the reasons for migration and fails to acknowledge the United States’ role in creating some of the reasons for outward migration. This paper argues that the influx of migrants from Central America, particularly El Salvador, is inextricably linked to past U.S. foreign and domestic policies. Existing scholarship often examines these policy spheres in isolation, either focusing on U.S. interventionism in Central America or on domestic immigration reforms. This thesis, however, posits that these seemingly distinct policies are deeply intertwined, and a failure to consider their combined impact leads to unintended consequences, perpetuating cycles of migration.</p> <p>This essay will analyze how the confluence of U.S. foreign policy decisions in El Salvador, under Reagan during the Cold War, and subsequent domestic immigration policies, most notably the Clinton-era 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), have significantly contributed to the ongoing migration from the country. By examining U.S. support for the Salvadoran government during its civil war and the later enforcement-centric immigration policies in the United States, this research demonstrates how actions taken by previous administrations created an environment that compelled Salvadorans to flee, a trend that continues to this day. El Salvador serves as a critical case study, illustrative of broader U.S. policies towards North Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) and Latin America as a whole.</p> <p>The failure of both the Reagan and Clinton administrations to consider the interconnectedness of their foreign and domestic agendas exacerbated the issue of irregular immigration from Central America. Reagan’s Cold War strategy prioritized geopolitical concerns over the potential for displacement, while Clinton’s domestic immigration reforms overlooked the impact on a fragile, post-conflict society and government. This analysis, based on prior research of a variety of scholars, journalists, and first-hand accounts, offers crucial insights for contemporary policymaking, highlighting the need for a more integrated approach that considers the multifaceted impacts of U.S. actions abroad on domestic immigration patterns.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

War, Diplomacy and Society

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Dixon, Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mateo Jarquin
• Kyle Longley
• Rafael Luevano

• El Salvador
• Cold War
• Reagan
• Gangs
• IIRIRA
• Clinton
• Diplomatic History
• Latin American History
• Political History
• United States History

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/war_and_society_theses/46

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:war_and_society_theses-1047