Which factor often limited immigration from Central America during the late 20th century?

The choice highlighting U.S. foreign policies and interventions in Central America during the late 20th century is significant because these actions often created conditions that caused instability and difficulties in the region. For instance, U.S. involvement in supporting certain governments or military regimes, as well as opposition to others, led to civil conflicts that displaced many individuals. The civil wars in countries like El Salvador and Nicaragua throughout the 1980s pushed many people to flee in search of safety and better opportunities.

While job opportunities in the U.S. are a relevant factor in immigration patterns, the influx of Central American migrants was often directly influenced by the violent conditions fueled by U.S. policy. Stricter immigration laws in neighboring countries could potentially be a concern, but these laws generally do not have the same profound impact as the direct consequence of instabilities created by U.S. involvement. Natural disasters, while they do affect migration, were less of a continuous limiting factor in comparison to the conflicts and systemic issues arising from U.S. foreign relations in the region at that time. Therefore, U.S. foreign policies and interventions acted as a catalyst for migration, rather than a limitation.