Compares policies toward Salvadorean and Nicaraguan refugees adopted by the Costa Rican government between 1980 and 1989. It examines the differences in treatment of the two groups in the light of four explanatory factors: economic conditions in the host country; the Costa Rican foreign policy interests; national security concerns; and attitudes expressed by the Costa Rican public toward the two refugee groups. It is argued that economic conditions, security concerns and public responses shaped policies toward Salvadorean refugees. Treatment of Nicaraguans, on the other hand, was influenced primarily by the nature of external relations between Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the United States. -Author

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Nicaraguan refugees Central America Salvadorean refugees migration constraint immigration law foreign policy Costa Rica refugee policy government policy