El Salvador Implements New Travel Fee Amidst U.S. Pressure on Migration Control
El Salvador has introduced a fee of $1,130 for travelers from various countries who transit through its main airport, in response to pressure from the United States to help manage migration flows at its southern border. The fee has been imposed on citizens of 57 predominantly African nations and India since the end of October, according to El Salvador’s aviation authority. While the authorities have described it as an “airport improvement fee,” they have acknowledged an increase in travelers from these countries this year. The U.S. has been urging Central American nations to curb the influx of migrants to its border with Mexico, with over 2 million apprehensions reported during the previous fiscal year.
El Salvador’s aviation authority stated that most passengers paying the fee are bound for Nicaragua on Avianca, a commercial airline. Due to its lenient visa requirements, Nicaragua serves as a transit point for migrants from Africa, as well as Haiti and Cuba, who are attempting to reach the U.S. Earlier this year, U.S. officials were taken aback by a surge in Mauritanian migrants arriving at the southern border. Investigations revealed that travel agencies and social media influencers were promoting a multi-leg trip that took migrants from Mauritania to Nicaragua, with Avianca flights being the last two legs.
Neither El Salvador’s aviation authority nor its immigration agency possesses data on the number of migrants from the affected countries who have transited through the country this year. While a U.S. embassy spokesperson declined to comment on whether the U.S. had requested the fee, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele stands to gain politically by assisting the U.S. in migration control. Despite facing constitutional limitations on seeking reelection and scrutiny regarding his human rights record, Bukele faced no public criticism from the U.S. during the Trump administration, which prioritized migration control. However, under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has openly criticized Bukele’s democratic and human rights track record.
The Biden administration has called on Central American nations to take more significant steps to control migration, although not all countries have welcomed this request. Pamela Ruiz, a Central America analyst for the International Crisis Group, suggests that most governments recognize migration as a key U.S. interest, which can be used as a bargaining chip. Some countries, such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador, have collaborated with the U.S. to establish centers for migrants seeking asylum, family reunification, or temporary work permits. Conversely, Nicaragua has allowed hundreds of charter flights carrying Cuban and Haitian migrants bound for the U.S., leading to a stern warning from the Biden administration.
As Bukele faced criticism while registering for reelection in 2024, the Biden administration adopted a cautious approach. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols stated that the legitimacy and legality of the election should be subject to a broad debate within El Salvador. This stands in contrast to the U.S.’s condemnation of “anti-democratic behavior” during Guatemala’s elections earlier this year. Analysts speculate that Bukele is willing to cooperate on immigration control to avoid international scrutiny. However, questions remain about whether the reduced number of migrants will lead to fewer criticisms of the Bukele administration.
