The Immigration Journey Of El Norte

It has been 11 years since we have arrived to Los Angeles, California. I can still remember the feeling of when my father had said to us that he we would be moving to a far place to try to find better jobs for my mother and him because with the two jobs my father had and the washing and ironing of other peoples clothes my mom did was not bringing enough money to support my sisters and me and did they wanted to provide a better life for my sisters and me. Mexico was such a poor country that my parents could not see themselves make enough money to support my sisters and me, let alone see us get a better education. So my parents decide to migrate to the United States with one of my mother’s brother. We arrived in Los Angeles, California on

El Norte was released in 1983 and set in the middle of Guatemalan civil war. It was directed by Gregory Nava and produced by Anna Thomas. The major theme of this movie is the struggle of young siblings to find a better life in another country as immigrants. The movie is divided into three parts: when the two siblings, Enrique and Rosa flee from their homeland because of a raged war, their attempts to cross Mexico illegally, and arrived in the United States of America, where most people think it’s a “promised land”. The main point of this movie is not the end, but the journey itself. Immigration is one of the most heated and controversial issues until now. By watching this movie, we can see the different perspective from the immigrants.

Gregory Nava’s 1983 film, El Norte, is by far one of the most honest and eye opening depictions of the experience many undocumented immigrants and refugees have when trying to come to the United States. By challenging the ethnocentric tendencies of the North American film industry and the general negative stereotypes of Latinos in film, Nava is one of the first writers/directors to break away from the typical representations of Latinos and give such true representation and discussion of many issues surrounding Latinos, immigration, and American society and values. The film focuses on two young Mayan brother and sister, Enrique and Rosa, from their flight from their village in rural Guatemala to their life of hardship and isolation in Los Angeles,

The movie “El Norte “is the one of the most successful and influential movies to represent the immigrants state. Director Gregory Nava’s gives the story of Guatemalan siblings Rosa and Enrique’s journey in a melodramatic way. The movie is divided to three main parts, Guatemala, Mexico and United States. The story of Rosa and Enrique’s shows us community, the power of language and culture in different countries.

The United States wanted to expand its territory toward the West and the Southwest during the Market Revolution in search for raw materials. After gaining its independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico was left “destitute, reducing its ability to supply the establecimientos as before.” Aside from that, Native groups such as the Apache and the Comanche returned to raid its supply. They continued to raid Mexico, especially Texas. Eventually, the Native groups reached the outskirts of Mexico City. To create a buffer zone between Mexico and the Natives, the Mexican government opened its border in Texas and welcomed new settlers. Most of these settlers were Anglo-American. By the end of the 1820s, “Anglo-American outnumbered Mexicans in Texas 12,000 to 5,000.” The Anglo-American brought with them cash crops that helped flourished the economy of Texas.

I grew up in a small town in the state of Michoacan, Mexico until a few weeks after my seventh birthday. In 2001, after six years since my father petitioned to have us come to the United States with him and finally he had received a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that his request had been approved. Being of that age, I was my mother’s companion everywhere, however, all I could grasp from those conversations was that we were going to the United States. I don 't think any of us knew what this meant or to what extent this would change our lives, not even my parents whom I thought knew it all.

I do not fit in one box on a federal checklist, I am of several cultures. My experience of listening to my Grandmother’s stories made me acutely aware of this fact. I am not just an American, I am a Mexican-American. Living in the Rio Grande Valley, I am part of this “third country” that Anzaldua calls the borderland (Anzaldua Borderlands 1987, 3). In this third country where the “third world grates against the first and bleeds”, the spilt blood creates a new country; an uneasy fusion of both cultures (Anzaldua Borderlands 1987, 3). In my case I was born to a father from Mexico and a mother from America, I am part of the third culture, the Mexican-American. I am proud to be an American and a Hispanic, yet America devalues me because of my heritage.

People in Central America especially, long to have their basic necessities met. Visiting Guatemala and Mexico at the age of ten was a hard site to see. Kids walking on the street barefoot not because they wanted to, but they had no money to buy shoes. Making their dirty feet ache at night. Wearing the same clothes full of filth because they could not afford to buy clothes and soap. Parents struggling to provide for their family. They would often sent their child to school without lunch, making it hard for the student to concentrate at school. Any little money counts and they would make it last. Yet they were so welcoming and loving to guest. They had nothing to offer but the little they had they would offer. Family’s full of frustration and no hope turn to the journey of going to “el Norte”. Hoping to have a better life and help their family improve their social status.

Immigration has been a topic for heated discussions for many years. However, no one has really ever looked into what immigration actually is or how hard it is for the people trying to immigrate. In the common reader we are given an insight to what immigration is, and the risks that follow.

This research paper focuses on the Rio Grande Valley, and immigration. The purpose of this research paper is to demonstrate that immigration to the Rio Grande valley has had a negative impact. Effects immigration has on the Valley 's economy, employment, and education are discussed. The concepts of "informal" and "underground" economy by Richardson, C. and Pisani, M. are covered to demonstrate the unique economy the Rio Grande has. Poverty rates at a national and local level are compared. Studies by Richardson, C. and Pagan, J. are used for their statistical information regarding unemployment in the Rio Grande Valley from the years 2000 until today. Counterarguments regarding positive effects in the Rio Grande are considered. Conclusion reached is that immigration in the Rio Grande Valley does have a negative effect, although it is needed, to a certain point in employment and economy; however a positive impact has been experienced in education.

In “El Norte”, Gregory Nava states that Guatemala was dark place to live there, and that the people were pick out food with their hands. There was a lot of people working and becoming slaves for picking out the food. Another thing about El Norte is that the brother named Enrique and the sister named Rosa. Enrique was worry about his father for leaving dinner he said to Enrique “The rich came to this village from other parts looking for good land, no one fights over band land”, meaning that people only come to a rich place because the environment good, eating healthier food and they have technology. Once Arturo left enquire to meet with his worker friends, the military people can to find them, Arturo was extremely closed to escape instead the military shot. Enquire hear the gunshot and saw his father head hanging up on the tree, when enquire saw his father hanging up on the tree he was angry sad and want to kill the military people which he did three time. When they were having the funeral for Arturo everybody in the village was praying for him and other men that got killed. Everybody was dressing the same clothes and the music was sounding beautiful when Rosa was singing. The military can back to find enquire for killing them, once they were searching the place military people took his family while they Rosa and enquire were hiding inside the canyon. When enquire and Rosa find each other they both want to get out of Guatemala and head to the “North.” They both were wearing white clothes maybe representing their culture, religious or maybe their she was tired wearing the same clothes and when they left Guatemala the music was back. Enrique and Rosa are on a quest to get out of the ethnic and political repressed Guatemala and attempt to escape to the North where they can live the “American dream.” Will Enrique and Rosa live the “American dream” once they escape to the North? Can an illegal immigrant achieve the “American dream?” To answer these questions the audience you figure out what depend on the viewers.

Gomberg-Muñoz’s book provides the reader with an inside prospective of the lives of undocumented Mexicans. It shows what it is like for people working to help forward themselves and their families in Mexico and The United States. Contrary to some Americans belief that Mexicans want to take over the United States, the majority of the Lions just

Part 1: My mom is from Guerrero, Mexico. My grandparents are from Guerrero, Mexico. But they currently live in Veracruz, Mexico. My dad is from the Mexican State, Mexico. But I am from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My mom moved to Milwaukee in April of 1998. From the beaches of Veracruz, Mexico, to the big cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She moved here because she wanted to explore new things, to have a huge change in her life. From a rural areas with animals around, to a urban area with traffic everywhere. My mother came here illegally, by the borders, by walking in the hot desserts. My mom moved away from Veracruz, Mexico because she didn’t like the rural areas she was living in. Ever since I was born here, I have never moved from here. What pulled

majority of Latino undocumented workers are presently part of the labor force in the United

In terms of accessibility, elderly Latinos forgo doctor visits even though they are Medicare insured because they cannot cover out-of-pocket costs. Similarly, low finances make impose difficulties in paying for transportation. Like other minority groups, elderly Latinos have to rely solely on Social Security, with only 20% of them having private pension and 27% having income from assets, compared to a higher 43% and 67%, respectively, in non-Latino groups (Wallace). The low finance elderly Latinos experience results from overrepresentation in low-wage jobs that don’t offer retirement benefits (Wallace)..