The Development of Central American Communities in Western Europe

Central Americans in the past 50 years have been migrating in larger and larger numbers. This is mostly caused by civil wars, economic turmoil, and political instability. The number of migrants has only increased over time and the United States has been the main destination for Central Americans and houses the largest diaspora from the region. However, in recent years, Central Americans have begun to migrate in larger numbers to Europe due to increased difficulties in migrating to the United States, and because of visa-free access to most European countries and a more streamlined asylum process. Most of these migrants have been Salvadorans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Guatemalans who, for the most part, have migrated to Western European nations. Specifically, the countries that have some of the largest Central American populations are Spain, Italy, and Belgium. This paper adds to the body of research on Central American migration, which has so far concentrated primarily on the Americas, by expanding the lens to include rising Europe-based communities.