Not My Problem: The Impact of U.S. Deportation of Criminals on Secondary Education in El Salvador

Priti Kalsi, California State University, Chico

Exploiting a U.S. policy that increased the number of criminals that were deported to El Salvador, I study the impact of increased number of criminals on secondary education within El Salvador. Using yearly statistics, I find that the number of extradited criminals from the U.S. increases secondary education repetition rates in El Salvador. Using micro data from the El Salvadoran census, I show that exposure to criminal deportees at the age of 12 negatively impacts years of schooling. Additionally, it is shown that the number of deported criminals impacts the years of schooling for boys but not girls.