During the 1980s, more than three million immigrants fled to other countries from the political and economic crises affecting Central America. The influx of displaced Central Americans has had major demographic and cultural effects in Belize, the only officially anglophone country of the region. This article assesses the origins and migration plans of immigrant workers in the Belizean banana industry. Despite diminishing conflict in their homelands, most immigrant workers do not intend to return home permanently. They nonetheless retain a transnational orientation through sustained contact with their native communities. Workers' immigration status, nationality, marital status, and length of residence in Belize are significant determinants of their settlement intentions. Policy recommendations are made that would alleviate the abusive conditions to which many immigrant workers are subjected.

Central Amercia, Belize Immigration, banana workers, refugees, transnationalism

working conditions Transnationalism migrant labour belize banana cultivation banana plantation plantation workers refugee enclave cultural change immigration impact developing country labour migration Refugees