Eddiana Mancebo

Eddiana Mancebo Almonte

Final Essay Immigration

Many people are migrating from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the U.S. in recent years. There are many reasons why people migrate to the U.S., but in most cases, they come to escape violence and poverty. These immigrants come with the hope of a better life, but in most cases, they never get it and instead live in constant fear of being deported or even worse, becoming victims of crime. In Central America, the levels of violence and crime are very high, so many people decide to leave because the chance of a better life in the U.S. is much better than what they have in their country. For example, El Salvador has one of the highest homicide rates in the world with more than 90 murders per 100,000 people (Bender 257). These high levels of violence are caused by several gangs that are fighting against each other and controlling parts of the city. Understanding why so many immigrants from Central America come to the U.S.

According to the CFR’s “Central America’s Violent Northern Triangle,” there are approximately two million people who have left the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) since the year 2014. In addition, the number of unaccompanied children apprehended at the U.S.–Mexico border nearly doubled from 37,477 in fiscal year (FY) 2014 to 69,497 in FY 2015 ((Bender 257)). In the case of Mexico, there are over 11 million people who leave their country for an opportunity for work and economic development. the vast majority of those leaving or trying to leave are from Mexico and Central American countries. However, the total number of people who have migrated from Mexico to the U.S. is 12 million and includes both documented and undocumented immigrants. In the year 2014, there were 1.3 million Central American migrants in Mexico and this number increased to 1.8 million in 2015 (CFR, 23).

In addition, it is estimated that in recent years the number of people fleeing the Northern Triangle annually is 407,000 people. This people are immigrating to the United States through Mexico. The leading reasons that have caused the migration are violence, extreme poverty, and lack of job opportunities. The issue of immigration has been a controversial issue because the people are leaving with no documentation and no right to work in Mexico. There are more undocumented immigrants in El Salvador than in any other Central American country. There are almost one million people who have immigrated from El Salvador since the year 2000 and estimates show that half of these immigrants have left since the year 2014. Approximately 370,000 undocumented immigrants from El Salvador live in the United States today; these people left after the year 1999 (CFR, 09).

There are various reasons as to why people are migrating from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the U.S. One of the common reasons is economic instability across the Northern Triangle. The Covid-19 pandemic worsened the economy of the Northern Triangle, which has been declining for years. The economy in these areas are also affected by drug trafficking, organized crime, and an increase in homicides. Immigrants from Mexico and Central America are particularly vulnerable to economic shocks because they do not have the same resources that exist in developed countries. These immigrant groups tend to come with low education levels and limited access to financial resources; as a result, they are more likely to be impacted by macroeconomic problems while they reside in their countries of origin as compared to natives. For example, “Mexicans and Central Americans who live overseas send money back home at rates that are equivalent to the global average,” yet almost half of the persons that send money away receive remittances from people living abroad.

Another reason for this emigration from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is poverty and food insecurity. The figures that show the percentage of food-insecure households in the Northern Triangle are staggering. This creates conditions where both children and adults are suffering and have insufficient diets. The lack of access to necessities can lead to a number of health problems and higher health care costs. These consequences must be weighed when considering potential solutions to this issue. The most recent wave of emigration from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras has been linked to violence throughout the region.

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are among the most violent countries worldwide. The higher homicide rates in these countries have made many people to flee in search for peace and stability. This is a trend that has occurred in the past in all of Latin America. The mass emigration from these countries has been linked to many social and economic problems in their countries. These problems have been local, national, and international in nature.

The migrants fleeing to the United States come from cities plagued by crime, such as San Salvador and El Salvador. The Central American corridor has seen an increase in violence, drug trafficking, and organized crime related violence because of illegal migration. In addition to crime problems and political issues, the migrants faced poverty and food insecurity because of low incomes or lack of jobs or wages. Many people have left their homes because they had no means to provide for themselves or their families due to lack of jobs and other factors.

Some may also have family members in the U.S., compelling them to make the journey north. In recent years, many unaccompanied children from Central America have crossed illegally into Texas and other US states in search of their families because they believe that returning home would be too dangerous or impossible on their own. Other immigrants may come for a better education or healthcare system that is unavailable to them where they currently reside with their families. Some migrants don’t care about any of these concerns; they just want a job and want to be able to send money back home.

There are various reasons as to why most people from the Northern Triangle prefer to move to the United States. The U.S has political and economic stability, high levels of education and health care, as well as an abundance of jobs. In the United States, many are able to find ways to make a living despite their legal status. In El Salvador and Honduras for instance, the extreme poverty in this region can weigh on people to such an extent that they have no other choice but to leave their country in order to survive (Massey & Pren, 27). Once they reach the U.S., these migrants face little challenges which makes it easy for them to establish themselves and achieve economic success even if they don’t have papers or haven’t been granted asylum yet.

The U.S. foreign and domestic policy has been a major driver in the migration of Latino immigrants, particularly from Mexico and Central American countries. US foreign policy has had a significant impact on immigration since the Mexican Revolution in 1910-1920s (Harvest of Empire). The US American occupation of Mexico during this time led to resentment among its citizens who saw it as land theft and territorial aggression.

The number of undocumented Latino immigrants in the US from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is high. The numbers are not disputed, but the causes of such a high number are. With proper education and knowledge of US law, immigrants can attain legal status in the US. For those who cannot gain that heretofore, deportation is an option for many countries that have agreements with the United States. Undocumented immigrants are those who cannot gain legal status and therefore cannot work or travel to and from the United States freely ((Bender 257)). undocumented immigrants are many because of the tightening of US immigration laws.

There are various challenges facing undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The main challenges undocumented immigrants face living in the U.S. are economic. Undocumented immigrants are barred from accessing public benefits, so many of them undertake jobs that don’t have a living wage. These jobs can put undocumented immigrants into unsafe and potentially harmful conditions. Some undocumented immigrants work in the agriculture industry, which is dangerous because they are always at risk of disease and other dangerous pathogens. There are also various social challenges to be faced by undocumented immigrants in the U.S., some of them being a lack of education and knowledge about US laws, language barriers, and a lack of human rights that come with living in the country without legal status or the opportunity to receive legal status. Undocumented persons will not be able to fully participate in society without integration into public life. Undocumented immigrants are forced to live marginalized lives so by forced to live marginalized lives they can no longer fully participate in society as whole. Further, because they are not eligible for social security and social insurance programs, undocumented immigrants often do not have access to health care or disability income. As a result of all these factors, the children of undocumented immigrants are more likely than other children to live in poverty and greatly struggle to make ends meet. They also struggle with combating racism and discrimination, staying within the law, trying to find a way to provide for themselves, and navigating through a punitive immigration system that seeks to end their presence in its borders (Massey & Pren, 27).

In conclusion, the estimated number of documented and undocumented immigrants that are in the U.S. from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is high. The influx of undocumented migrants across the US-Mexico border is a new phenomenon. The rise in US-Mexico border apprehensions and the inability to quickly deport those that are detained has made the issue more important than ever before. President Obama announced a series of executive actions aimed at addressing that issue by increasing enforcement efforts against undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and enhancing opportunities for those who wish to become citizens through legal channels. For example, he ordered immigration officials to concentrate on deporting criminals while taking steps to spare law-abiding people from being deported if they have American spouses or children and are in compliance with taxes or other requirements imposed by federal laws (Harvest of Empire).