Family Data Analysis Paper

In her article “A Note to Young Immigrants” from Fall 2005, Mitali Perkins reflects on her own negative experience as an immigrant in the US; and in the final part of her article, she provides a note to other immigrants as on how to deal with the feeling of being different and how to turn this negative perception into a positive experience. First, she lists some examples based on empirical evidence what exactly an immigrant loses by immigrating into another country: she says that as an immigrant, one will first lose the feeling of having a “home” and that one will start perceiving everything by means of “race”. Furthermore, she explains that the new country does not give the feeling of belonging because one feels different in means of traditions, language, understanding societal codes of behavior and also in means of sticking out of the mass everywhere one goes. At the end, Perkins states that one should not get discouraged and rather should try to see one’s own distinctiveness in a positive light; namely, as owning the best qualities of two different worlds. In conclusion, Perkin’s main argument is that although immigrants might experience a loss on various personal and cultural levels, they should not get discouraged or give up as they can turn this loss into

Whether it be through the policymaker, writing or signing laws into effect that will change immigration in their state for the better or worse, through the educational system and it’s need to adapt to the changing needs of the children, or the mindsets of the host communities and how they view the immigrants, all play an important role in forming the experiences of the immigrants as they attempt to find their way in America. Only through understanding different cultures and concepts like familismo can better systems be put into place to prevent unintentionally or intentional systems of

My interviewee, Delia, is the child of Mexican-immigrants and was born in Mexico. At the age of eight, she was brought to the United States, which makes her one of many 1.5 generation immigrants (Feliciano Lec.1/4/16). For the remainder of this paper, my respondent will be referred to as Delia in order to conceal her identity. In this interview paper, I will discuss Delia’s family’s migration

My grandparents struggled on a day-to-day basis because my grandfather’s salary was only enough to eat rice and beans. My grandfather realized that it was not possible to be able to feed four children and improve their lifestyle under this low-income job. He began to seek for a new job in which he would gain a decent amount of money to improve his family’s lifestyle. He was not able to obtain a good paying job in Mexico. As a result, he found that the only solution would be for him to immigrate to the United States. The author Carol Cleaveland, from the George Mason University, finds that many immigrants “faced the choice of subsisting at home, or realizing the hope of earning a better living job in El Norte” this was the case for my grandfather (576).

In 2012, there was a surge of Mexico's citizens transitioning into a country where they weren’t fully accepted, all to better their children’s lives along with their own. Being a immigrant in America is hard due to having to start over from nothing. Immigrants find themselves working hard manual jobs despite not having any interest in the field they are working in. Some immigrants also see themselves as a burden to the country due to having plans

The typical black family has only six percent of the typical white household, and Latinos has eight percent of the typical white household. The median white household had $111,146 in wealth in 2011, $7,113 for the median black household and $8,348 for the median Latino household. This is a huge gap because of the economic disadvantages for people of color. The economic gap means that families of color cannot have the same benefits as white families. With homeownership, about 73% of white peoples own homes, while only 45% of black families and 47% of Latino families own homes. Also white family’s homes are worth more than other families of color. That inequality comes from the 1934 National Housing Act that redlined black neighborhoods, which

family roots compel a large number of Mexicans to remain in Mexico. Some Mexicans move to the U.S.

“Papa, no te vayas!” (Daddy, don’t go!) Those were the words that I said with tears streaming down my face every time my dad left our home in Mexico to return to California. I recall this fractured family existence, this inevitable sacrifice of separation in order to survive for seven long years, until my parents decided that it was time to reunite in the United States and finally become a stable family. While the United States was a new setting for my family, it was not a new place for me as it was my birth country. Yet, I remember feeling harassed and excluded, common emotions among immigrants to the U.S. and this new emotion created a fear I was unaccustomed to; I felt scared of this new lifestyle and of the limited possibilities.

Mexican Migration to the United States has been a key movement for Mexicans living in Mexico. The standard of living in Mexico just does not meet the requirements needed to stay, and raise a family there. Mexicans are seeking better opportunities and doing what is best for their families to support them. They often feel that migrating to the United States is the answer to their problems that they are experiencing in Mexico. Truth to the matter is that they are not happy with their living conditions in Mexico. It seems to be that there is more negative present than any other factors and it’s not getting better. Through research on these general statements, I plan to find the main reasons why Mexico is not an ideal location for living and what really are the influences that bring Mexicans over to the United States. I will also analyze the social and economic impacts Mexicans have in the United States as well.

Gomberg-Muñoz highlights the importance of Latin Americans to the United States’ economy and how this plays a key role in the formation and proposal of the different immigration policies and laws America enforces. Her findings for this ethnography predominately come from four years of extensive field research comprised of interviews, volunteer work, and access to an online support group called The Juárez Wives Club (Gomberg-Muñoz). Gomberg-Muñoz focuses her research on mixed status families. This means that “mixed-status” could be a number of combinations involving an undocumented immigrant and either a U.S. citizen, a permanent legal resident, or a DACA recipient. As mentioned above, the U.S. greatly emphasizes the importance for family reunification, but in the case of mixed-status families, this could not be farther from the truth. The United States may like to reunify families, but for a mixed-status family the Immigrant System almost always splits families apart or forces them to make a life in a different country (Gomberg-Muñoz). This is a greatly terrifying risk, which is sometimes forced upon undocumented immigrants and their

Reflecting on what I encountered through conversations, I held with certain students some descriptions of their migration process were similar and different of those found by Rubén León-Hernández. For example, some explained that they, and as mentioned in the book, coming to the U.S. was not their first chose and tried to find suitable employment back home but were unsuccessful. Others mentioned that they had family in the U.S. and migrated to the pursue “American Dream.” Also, they informed me that their goal was to improve the conditions of those they left back home by sending goods, whether for personal use or to build small businesses. Therefore, keeping on “one foot there and one foot here,” things that were explained throughout the book. Building networks here and back home were said to be relevant to the students I tutored.

One big factor that brings people into the United State is to support their family. Carlos worked so hard for raising his son, Luis, as a single parent. He didn’t want his son to spend his whole life like him, so he hoped Luis gets better education and better job in the future. I think most common reason why people move to the US is their family. When I went to Portland with my mother during this spring break and used a taxi, I talked with a male driver who is from Mexico. This was my first time seeing Mexican and having conversation. He moved to the US because his mother is sick, so he needs to earn money to care of her. We talked about many things and then he told me “You’re lucky because your mother is healthy. Please take care of her. And you have good education, so your future is going to be good.” I didn’t know what to say.

Modern family is an American TV show that started in 2009 on ABC channel. Since then, this comedy show is one of the most watched shows in TV nowadays; so far it has won 22 Emmy awards from 75 nominations. Personally, this is one of my favorites TV shows ever because it is extremely funny but also it portrays its tittle, you actually see a modern family: its diversity, its struggles, its attachment, and so on. I really love this show because it is for any type of audience, children will laugh as hard as a grandpa. I think that through this show our young generations can actually learn a little bit more about family and its diversity and at the same time having fun. I personally know few families that will watch it every Wednesday at 9:00pm

I believe in the power of nonbiological family. I believe it can be just as strong, if not sometimes stronger, than blood relation. One way that I can see the strength of family is through close friendships. At times, if I ever feel like my real family is not there for me, my friends are always there. I know I can count on them always, and I trust them with my life. Is creating a familial bond with someone who was once a stranger not as powerful as being born into a bond? Is it not worth noticing that having a bond like this is a choice that you have to actively work to keep, versus how a bond with your parents or siblings is a given? Having these people to be your family, whether or not they are related to you, is so important to create a healthy, happy life for yourself. If you

Immigration is the act of coming to live in a place permanently in a foreign country. Many people all over the world go through thick and thin to try to get into the United States. People risk losing their homes, possessions, and sometimes have to leave their families in order for them to be safe. Two articles have put immigration to many people’s attention. These articles are “The Heartache of an Immigrant Family” by Sonia Nazario and “Central Americans Flow Into Mexico, Bound for the U.S.” by Randal C. Archibold. These articles hold two similar purposes and one different purpose. The two similar purposes they hold are showing the objects immigrants have to give up and the dangers they face during the process of immigration. The difference