The political upheaval in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala had a devastating human toll at the end of the twentieth century. Many of those who survived the wars chose temporary refuge in neighboring countries such as Honduras and Costa Rica. This book tells the story of that migration.

Garcia concludes by addressing the legacies of the Central American refugee crisis, especially recent attempts to coordinate a regional response to the unique problems presented by immigrants and refugees - and the challenges of coordinating such a regional response in the post-9/11 era.

Preface and Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Wars in Central America and the Refugee Crisis
2. Designing a Refugee Policy: Mexico as Country of First Asylum
3. Refugees or Economic Migrants? The Debate over Accountability in the United States
4. Humanitarianism and Politics: Canada Opens Its Doors to Central America
Conclusion. Shared Responsibility? Legacies of the Central American Refugee Crisis
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index.