However, nearly three-fourths of UAC  apprehended in fiscal year 2014 were nationals from El Salvador,  Guatemala, and Honduras. In fiscal year 2014, approximately 122,000  nationals (both children and adults) from the Northern Triangle countries  were removed from the United States and returned to their home  countries, according to DHS. That number decreased to approximately  75,000 in fiscal year 2017. USAID Provides Funding for Assistance to Reintegrate Migrants Returning to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras

USAID has provided funding for short- and long-term assistance to  migrants returning to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, including  assisting returning migrants upon arrival at points of entry and  reintegrating them into their home countries. These efforts are in various stages  of development in all three countries. Host governments face challenges  in their efforts to reintegrate migrants, including limited resources and a  lack of employment opportunities. USAID  has not yet assessed the effectiveness of reintegration efforts conducted  to date, but plans to sign an agreement by the end of December 2018 for  a new reintegration program which will include a monitoring and  evaluation component. USAID Assessed the Effectiveness of its Reception and Data Collection Efforts through Program Monitoring and Report Reviews

Beginning in October 2014, after signing the first agreement IOM, USAID  monitored program implementation and assessed the effectiveness of  IOM’s efforts to assist returning migrants and improve migration  information through site visits, regular meetings with IOM, and review of  IOM reports. U.S. Assistance Has Helped Improve Reception Centers and Data Collection

			Reception Center Improvements

With U.S. assistance, IOM improved the capacity of the Northern Triangle  governments to provide reception services to returning migrants and to  collect migration information. Migration-Related Data Improvements

With IOM’s support, the governments of the Northern Triangle have  improved their capacity to collect data about returning migrants. 2 earlier in this report.) According to USAID and IOM officials, the Northern Triangle governments  are using the expanded information about returning migrants to make  informed decisions, design public policies, and develop programs to  provide reintegration assistance. Reintegration is a long-term process and many of the  reintegration assistance programs are just beginning. Agency Comments and Our Evaluation

We are not making any recommendations in this report. All the agencies  provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This report examines (1) the U.S. Agency for International Development’s  (USAID) efforts to assist the reception and reintegration of migrants from  El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras into their home countries since  fiscal year 2014; and (2) what is known about the effectiveness of these  efforts. We also interviewed  USAID, State, and IAF officials in the  United States who are responsible  for these programs. Agencies Coordinate on Reception and Reintegration Efforts for Migrants Returning to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras

	Interagency Coordination on Reception and Reintegration Efforts Takes Place in All Three Countries

Interagency coordination on reception and reintegration efforts takes  place at U.S. embassies among the U.S. Agency for International  Development (USAID), Department of State (State), Department of  Homeland Security (DHS), and others, in El Salvador, Guatemala, and  Honduras.
Why GAO Did This Study

In 2014, instability driven by insecurity, lack of economic opportunity, and weak governance led to a rapid increase of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras arriving at the U.S. border. In fiscal year 2017, the Department of Homeland Security reported (DHS) apprehending more than 200,000 nationals from these countries and removed nearly 75,000 nationals, including UAC, of these countries from the United States and returned them to their home countries. Current estimates also indicate nearly 350,000 individuals may need to be reintegrated to El Salvador and Honduras over the next few years when their Temporary Protected Status in the United States expires.
GAO was asked to review U.S. efforts to support the reintegration of Central American migrants. This report describes (1) USAID efforts to assist reception and reintegration of migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras into their home countries since fiscal year 2014; and (2) what is known about the effectiveness of these efforts. GAO reviewed agency program documents and funding data; interviewed officials from U.S. government agencies, IOM, and host governments and beneficiaries; and conducted site visits in these countries.
GAO is not making any recommendations in this report. USAID and IAF provided formal comments, which are reproduced in this report, and all agencies provided technical comments, which were incorporated as appropriate.

What GAO Found

Since fiscal year 2014, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided approximately $27 million to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)—an intergovernmental organization focusing on migration—for assistance to migrants returning to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Assistance to migrants includes short-term reception services, such as food and transportation, renovating reception centers, and collecting data on returning migrants that are used to support their reintegration. Assistance also includes long-term reintegration efforts, such as counseling services and employment assistance to make it easier for migrants to readjust to and stay in their home countries. These various efforts are in different stages of development.
While reception services for migrants have improved, USAID has not yet assessed the effectiveness of reintegration efforts. USAID monitored and assessed reception services through site visits, meetings, and reports from IOM. IOM's early efforts improved the three host governments' capacity to provide reception services to returning migrants. For example, since fiscal year 2014, IOM renovated the seven reception centers and shelters being used in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Further, with IOM's assistance, the host governments have improved their capacity to collect data about returning migrants. According to USAID and IOM, host governments are using these data to design policies and develop programs to provide reintegration assistance. While USAID has not yet assessed the effectiveness of reintegration efforts, many of these programs are just beginning. USAID expects to sign a new agreement by the end of December 2018 that would involve, among other things, monitoring and evaluating reintegration efforts in the three countries.