ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 analyses international instruments and national legislation that impact and shape the conceptualization of Central American migrants. In this chapter, we acknowledge that discourses socially and institutionally construct policies and legislation; therefore, by examining these documents, we aim to deconstruct the narrative surrounding the Central American migrant. By conducting a textual analysis of select documents, we deconstruct the greater discourses that shape the texts. Policies and international instruments were selected based on their relevance to the topic, to their widespread use and international acknowledgement, and to Central American migrants and youth centring. The examination centres on the following questions: How are refugees and migrants constructed on an international scale? How are Central American migrants constructed specifically? How are youth and youthhood defined? Through this exploration, we seek to understand the contentious experience of Central Americans seeking to flee their country and how discourses and constructions impact young migrants seeking to flee.
