Fleeing From Conflict: Individuals Escaping Violence in Latin American Nations
The Northern Triangle countries - El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala - have been among the most dangerous regions in the world, with high levels of gang-related violence, economic and political instability, and severe and persistent danger from gender-based violence. This has led to a significant increase in the number of citizens from these countries seeking asylum in the United States.
In 2016, the Northern Triangle countries were among the five countries with the highest number of citizens seeking asylum in the United States. Over the next few years, the United States experienced an increase of 1,089 percent in asylum applications from these countries. According to data from the UNHCR, the number of Venezuelans seeking asylum in the United States grew by nearly 2,500 percent from 2012 through 2016, making Venezuelans the fastest-growing group of people seeking asylum in the United States.
The situation in Venezuela is a neglected humanitarian crisis, with the country experiencing a worsening economic crisis, skyrocketing levels of violence, dwindling supply of necessities such as food and medicine, and the authoritarian rule of President Nicolás Maduro. Reports suggest that at least a million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring Colombia, and another 52,000 have reached Brazil since 2017.
The violence and crime in the Northern Triangle have been a major factor driving migration. The region suffers from some of the highest homicide rates globally, widespread gang activity, kidnappings, extortion, and threats to personal safety. A Guatemalan asylum seeker described how kidnapping and extortion affected his family, illustrating the severe insecurity. High poverty and limited access to lawful livelihood also push many to migrate seeking safety and employment.
Despite various immigration policy efforts, there remain very high numbers of migrant encounters and removals involving Northern Triangle nationals. In fiscal year 2023, removals to the Northern Triangle still represented a major portion of U.S. deportations, though slightly reduced compared to earlier years due to changing migration patterns. Deportations to these countries remain common; in May 2025, over half of all deportations were to Northern Triangle countries.
On the U.S. side, immigration encounters at the southern border have declined somewhat in recent months due to stronger border enforcement, expanded legal pathways, and international cooperation with Mexico to deter migration. However, Northern Triangle migrants still make up approximately one-fifth of migrants at the southern border in 2024.
Despite programs to admit refugees and legal applicants, high numbers of apprehensions and deportations persist. Furthermore, some deportees face harsh conditions upon return, including detention in severe prison conditions in El Salvador, raising ongoing human rights concerns.
In summary, Northern Triangle asylum seekers continue to flee primarily due to violence, poverty, and corruption, arriving in the U.S. amid a complex immigration landscape marked by high enforcement but also legal admission efforts and ongoing deportations back to dangerous home environments.
- In the search for better health and wellness, individuals from the Northern Triangle countries, such as El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, continue to seek asylum in the United States, which has witnessed an increase of 1,089 percent in asylum applications from these regions.
- Amid the ongoing violence, poverty, and corruption in their home countries, many Northern Triangle nationals, especially those affected by severe medical-conditions like breast-cancer, look to the United States for safety and access to better healthcare facilities and treatment options.
