In two decades, Belize hasn’t granted a single asylum request. The government guards zealously the personal information of every Central American that has escaped violence and has requested protection in recent years. It won’t even share this information with the United Nations.

Asylum applications have increased fivefold in Costa Rica over the last three years, due to an influx of people fleeing the Northern Triangle. The country has the most efficient legal system in the region.

The threat of death stalks Salvadorans on every corner of the country and fear paralyzes the families left behind by refugees. The government does not officially acknowledge that overwhelming violence has forcibly displaced thousands of its citizens.