Final answer:
In the 1970s, many Salvadorans fled their country due to the civil war, US involvement, and dire economic conditions, leading them to seek refuge in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many people left El Salvador in the 1970s due to a combination of political instability, civil war, and human rights abuses. The civil war of 1979-92, which was a struggle between the government-backed wealthy elite and impoverished peasants, led to significant violence and upheaval.
US involvement played a role in the intensity of the conflict, with the US government providing support to the Salvadoran military and rightist paramilitary groups, contributing to an environment of fear and chaos.
These conditions, along with economic difficulties, resulted in masses of Salvadorans seeking asylum and refuge in the United States, with many having to enter illegally due to Cold War-era US immigration policies that favored those fleeing Communist countries.