Immigration: The Rise Of Central American Immigrants

Immigration involves the movement of a group of people from one country to another where they do not possess citizenship. There are many reasons in which people may leave their country such as employment, lack of resources, family, fear due to violence, exile, the American dream. In 1965, Congress changed immigration law in ways that allowed much more intake from Asia and Latin America than earlier. Before 1965, the intake was mostly from Europe. Since then, over half has come from Latin America—28 % just from Mexico. The share of population composed of non-Hispanic whites plunged from 84 % in 1965 to only 62 % in 2015 while Hispanics soared from 4 to 18 %. (Mead, L.M., 2016)

Throughout the history of the United States immigration has become apart of our country’s fabric which, began centuries ago. Only to become a hot topic in the US in recent years with its primary focus being illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration is when people enter a country without government permission. As of 2008 the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the US which is down from 2007‘s 12.5 million people. Although the Center for Immigration Studies estimates are very different from other estimates that range from 7 to 20 million. While the Pew Hispanic Center estimated in March of 2009 there are 11.1 million illegal immigrants and that number is from March 2007’s peak of 12

Immigrating to a new country is difficult. One of the largest groups of immigrants that migrate to the United States are the Hispanics. There are approximately 11.7 million immigrants in the United States as of January 2010, and the amount continues to increase at a rapid rate (Warren, 2013). On average there are approximately 300,000 Hispanic immigrants entering the United States each year (Warren, 2013). Hispanics come from all Latin America including Mexico, the islands of the Caribbean, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, Central and South America (Warren, 2013). The United States has represented liberty and freedom to these individuals, and they often make critical decisions and take chances in the hope of a better future. Individuals often, leave their home country in hopes of a new beginning. The aim of this paper is to provide an extensive research on the current literature on immigration and acculturation among the Hispanic population.

Latin American immigrants are not just concentrated to one area of the country. Cubans mostly live in Florida, while Puerto Ricans live in the northeast, and Mexicans mostly live in the southwest (Chavez, et al, 2005: 508). Their main destinations in the United States could be based on the geographic locations of their home countries. They settle in the area of the United States that is the closest to their country of origin. The formation of ethnic enclaves is common among immigrants because it connects them to their home country. They are able to livie among people who speak the same language, or in this case the same dialect, prepare the same food, and have the same cultural values. This spatial distancing is further proof of separate ethnic identities. Immigrants tend to live within groups of people from their own countries, not just with people who identify as Latino. By living with people from their home countries, immigrants maintain connections with where they came from.

Hispanic immigration to the United States stems primarily from uniquely developed push-pull migration mechanisms in which “interplay of national, regional, and global economic developments, the history of U.S. military and foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, the checkered history of international border enforcement and interdiction efforts, and, not least, the aspirations of Latin American migrants and potential migrants themselves” (Gutierrez). In other words, migration from Latin American to the United States shouldn’t have been consistent, however, there are several factors that triggered massive waves of such.

Immigration has played an important role throughout American history. What fundamentally sets America apart from other nations is the foundation that it was created by immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their children (Camarota & Zeigler, 2016). During times of economic growth, laborers have been imported, and deported during recessions (Flores, 2016). An average of 1.1 million immigrants relocate to the United States annually (Storesletten, 2000). US Customs and Border Control officials, have witnessed a significant increase in the number of “unaccompanied alien minors” from Latin America, anticipating 75,000 minors (if not more) from 2016 to 2017 (Rush, 2016). The average age for “unaccompanied alien minors” is 11 years

Immigration has existed around the world for centuries, decades, and included hundreds of cultures. Tired of poverty, a lack of opportunities, unequal treatment, political corruption, and lacking any choice, many decided to emigrate from their country of birth to seek new opportunities and a new and better life in another country, to settle a future for their families, to work hard and earn a place in life. As the nation of the opportunities, land of the dreams, and because of its foundation of a better, more equal world for all, the United States of America has been a point of hope for many of those people. A lot of nationals around the world have ended their research for a place to call home in the United States of America. By analyzing

Latin American immigration to the United States and the growth of the latino and hispanic population is currently one of the most controversial topics being debated right now. What started as a small, regionally concentrated population of fewer 6 million in 1960, is now broadly scattered population of more than 50 million. Latino population keeps growing and exerting enormous impact on social, cultural, political, and economic aspects in the U.S. However, unlike what a lot of people think, Latino immigration to the United states is more than a population’s aspirations to the american dream, it has been influenced by multiple factors such as national, regional, and global developments, the history of the U.S. military and its foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, the controversial history of international border enforcement. When latino immigrants get to the United States, they make it their nation. However, their nation often fails to protect them and their interests, as well as embrace them. In this essay, I will explore in detail the various factors that drove the Latino community to immigrate to the U.S., and how the role of the U.S. as their nation shapes their experience.

The idea of immigration to America has been an extremely important part of the history of the country for hundreds of years. Some of the original immigrants to America were the settlers in 1607, when a group of men from England started a colony admits the swamplands of current day Virginia. Several years later in 1620, a group of puritans known as the Pilgrims also made their way to America to start a new life. Since then, millions have traveled across the ocean in hope of a new life and future in what is known as “The Land of the Free.” Just like much of the eastern side of the country, the immigration of Europeans to America played a very important role in the history of Michigan as well. It is through these immigrants that the religion,

In the article, Honduran Enterpreneur helps Central American Immigrants Gain Legal Status in Mexico by Mayela Sanchez states that Nora Rodriguez is a hero because she helps others and is a light for other people that need help. Mayela is a woman who helps Central Americans with their immigration paperwork. In the article Mayela states, "Rodriguez's efforts on belief of her community go beyond .. paperwork.. she and her nine other Central Americans formed an organization in February 2013 called Comunidad Centroamericana." This quote shows you how passionate she is about her job and how much she loves helping others. She legit formed an organization to be able to help twice as much people as she already does. She is very passionate about her

Violence and political instability have been one of the leading causes of population displacements with refugees making up a substantial number of migrations in the last century. A perfect illustration of this has been the migration of Cuban and Haitians to the United States. The dislocation of political exile to foreign countries, USA, and Europe was a major phenomenon between 1970 and 1980. Immigration to the United States and Canada was on the rise in the 1970s and 1980s resulting from political unrest in Central American counties (Pellegrino 43). Social and political violence in Colombia, which manifested in the second half of 20th century, resulted in actual population displacement to neighboring countries as well as other continents.

This migration was caused by push factors, which were the deprivation of the economy, as well as pull factors, such as the myth of the American dream. This is supported In Enrique’s Journey, by Sonia Nazario, in which she demonstrates the violence and corruption embedded in Honduras because of constant cycles of war and economic deprivation that limit opportunities, thus a social response is constructing a black market and gangs to pushback the oppressive governments regime. She writes, “Immigrants work hard at jobs no American wants to do, at least not for minimum wage with no health benefits or paid vacation time. Immigrants’ willingness to do certain back breaking jobs at low wages provides goods and services to all Americans at reasonable prices” (pg. 252).” She also notes, “36,000 gangsters in Honduras come from families in which the mother migrated north,” which highlights the systemic issue in which children are left in a corrupt society, while their mothers are forced to leave them for

Immigration to North America is a topic that many texts have covered. This type of writing piece can be conveyed in many ways and in many mediums. However, the formal way in which the authors of “What Colour is Your English?” have written their report gives it more credibility in the eyes of the reader. This aids in exposing a serious prejudice within Canadian society that needs to be dissolved due to the detrimental impacts on those it affects.

El Norte, “The North” has been a dream to almost every citizen from Latin America countries that are marginalize and feel rejected by society and their own governments. We hear tales of El Norte were anyone who crosses the border and works hard can save money to send to their families, can eventually afford to buy a car. and then owned a home of their own. When I got the opportunity to move to El Norte, I could not comprehend any of the ambitious people around me said I would be able to attain with my brand new green card. At that time the only thing I could think of is that I would finally be able to spend time with the voice from the other side of the telephone. A voice I was schedule to hear once a week in the neighborhood mini mart run by Sambrano, the owner of the only telephone in town. That voice that will asked me, how school was going? If I behave well and payed attention to my mother and grandfather? I would answer his questions with delight and tell him tales of my older brothers mischievous behaviour towards me. The conversation will always end with a teary voice from the other side, telling me that soon he will be able to see me. I can honestly say I can only recall one memory of my father from my pre-Norte life. My brother Jesus and I playing in with the sand of a small dry stream near our home, we lift our heads up when we hear footsteps approaching, when we recognize the silhouette of the person approaching we ran towards him

Immigration is the process of entry of individuals into a new country (23). Throughout past centuries, immigration has been a means of discovery and exploration of new lands. In today’s culture, immigration to the United States is an avenue for individuals who wish to start new lives and take advantage of the capitalistic, entrepreneurial system. People from many countries have migrated into the United States. Most recently, the migrants have come from Central and South American countries. These Latin American countries influence America’s society culturally and economically through their language, traditions, and workforce. From the 1990s to the present time, immigration from Latin American countries has more than