2. Introduction  The flows of extra-continental foreign nationals who enter Central America, Panama, and Mexico both regularly and irregularly (all destined for the United States and Canada) have increased considerably in recent years.  In 2011, El Salvador reported the entry of 10,876 African and Asian citizens. The total for 2012 to date is 6,585.  In recent years, El Salvador has identified irregular migratory flows that enter the country in transit.

3. Introduction  The migratory flows identified are comprised of economic migrants, refugees, and other categories of persons (such as victims of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling).  Countries of origin of the migrants interviewed: Eritrea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Somalia, Nigeria, Algeria, China, Ghana, and Sri Lanka, among others.

4. Migratory Flow of Citizens of African Countries January–December 2011 * Note of Interest: The category ‘Other Countries” includes 33 different nations, thus giving a total of 45 nationalities. CountryEntryExitTotal Gabon152153 305 South Africa10898 206 Guam7161 132 Swaziland1266 78 Uganda3239 71 Guinea3732 69 Egypt2624 50 Namibia2326 49 Ivory Coast1131 42 Algeria1621 37 Cameroon1618 34 Morocco1617 33 Other Countries*138139 277 TOTAL 6587251,383

5. Migratory Flow of Citizens of Asian Countries January–December 2011 CountryEntryExitTotal Phillipines2,3512,234 4,585 Japan1,7021,689 3,391 South Korea1,3021,203 2,505 Taiwan (Republic of China)955978 1,933 India900897 1,797 Israel672608 1,280 People’s Republic of China519562 1,081 Russia463576 1,039 Sri Lanka330292 622 Burma/Myanmar136135 271 Hong Kong108112 220 Indonesia106 212 Turkey11581 196 Singapore7170 141 Malaysia6356 119 North Korea4952 101 Other Countries376387 763 General Total10,21810,03820,256 * Note of Interest: The category ‘Other Countries” includes 27 different nations, thus giving a total of 43 nationalities.

6. CountryEntryExitTotal South Korea116311482311 Japan10289601988 Taiwan6386621300 India6166011217 Russia5154991014 Israel5315351066 People’s Republic of China499489988 Sri Lanka332310642 Turkey141134175 Hong Kong133127260 Other Countries* (22)7046821386 General Total6300614712,347

7. CountryEntryExitTotal Gabon374355729 South Africa95102197 Guinea9686182 Burkina Faso45 90 Chad404181 Ivory Coast423779 Uganda363773 Namibia322961 Ghana23 46 Egypt161531 Oman14 28 Other Countries 120123243 Total285266 1852

8. Extra-Continental Flows that Have Been Received at the Comprehensive Migrant Services Center YearCases Served RESOLUTION Total ExpulsionRefugeeProvisional Freedom 2008 10 Asians 4 Africans 3 Europeans 141217 2009 59 Asians 33 Africans 5 Europeans 3063497 2010 41 Asians 21 Africans 3 Europeans 39161065 2011 6 Asians 8 Africans 1 European 59115 2012 2 Asians 5 Africans 3 Europeans 6 3 (pending resolution) 1 10 Total929318 203

9. Refugee Status Petitions Country Sex Total MF Eritrea21526 Bangladesh25 Nepal26 Equatorial Guinea 1 1 Total73578 Country Sex Total MF Eritrea13316 Bangladesh 2 2 Nepal 61 7 Nigeria 1 1 Ethiopia 1 1 Somalia 5 5 Total28432 2009 2010

10. 2011 2012 Country Sex Total MF Eritrea62 8 Bangladesh1 1 Argelia1 1 TOTAL8210 Country Sex Total MF Bangladesh22 East Turkestan22 Ghana22 Total 66 Refugee Status Petitions

11. Identified Routes Route from Nepal: Nepal, India, Dubai, Brazil, Peru, to Ecuador by air From Ecuador to Nicaragua by fishing vessel From Nicaragua to El Salvador by speed boat From El Salvador to the United States on foot and by car Route from India: India, Hong Kong, Macao (China), Amsterdam (Germany), and Panama by air From Panama to El Salvador by air From El Salvador by land (bus) to Guatemala Route from Eritrea: Eritrea, Sudan, Dubai, Brazil, to Ecuador by air Through Colombia and Panama to El Salvador by land (through Central America) From El Salvador to the United States by land Route from Asia: Mainland China, Nepal, Bangladesh, to India by air From India by ship to Ecuador (changing vessels in mid-ocean) From Ecuador by ship (passing through Central America) Route from Africa: Ethiopía, Somalia and South Africa to Russia or Saudi Arabia by air To Cuba and/or Ecuador by air From Ecuador to El Salvador

12. Logistical and Financial Difficulties in Returning Migrants  High cost incurred to: a)Tend to migrants. (The Migrant Services Center spends approximately $150,000 per year.) b)Purchase airline tickets to return them to their country of origin or residence. The General Directorate has no specific budget item for this. Help in purchasing tickets has been requested from the IOM, Embassies, and relatives.

13. Logistical and Financial Difficulties in Returning Migrants  Lack of a monetary fund that could contribute to ensuring a rapid and safe migratory exit process.  The IOM only provides funds when the repatriation is voluntary; if not, there is no support.  The language barrier represents one of the principal problems, due to the lack of interpreters.  Lack of Embassies, Consulates, or honorary diplomatic representations of the extra-continental countries.

14. Challenges  Creation of action protocols designed to quickly determine the identity, profile, and protection needs of individuals who travel in groups and arrive irregularly in the region. To achieve this, a liaison network of migration officers needs to be created to develop and execute a Regional Cooperation Plan for the return and reintegration of irregular extra-continental migrants.  Facilitation and promotion of the migrant’s return to his/her country of origin. This requires voluntary return programs and re-admission agreements between countries.  Creation of a regional voluntary return fund and reintegration programs.

15. Challenges  Have available permanent, temporary, or virtual human resources to enable communication with this population in terms of linguistic interpretation.  Develop quick and effective application procedures designed to comply with the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air  Define a mechanism that allows updated information to be obtained regarding current conditions in the countries of origin.

16. Challenges  Creation of a comprehensive system to share information on migratory flows, and specifically on extra-continental migrants.  Strengthening, integration, and harmonization of existing mechanisms for identifying profiles and referring/channeling cases among the region’s countries.  Regional legalization and establishment of clear protocols, procedures, and guidelines applicable to those extra-continental migrants who can not be returned due to vulnerability situations.