The Rio Grande Valley, And Immigration

During the mid and late twentieth century a major Mexican immigration Boom happened. With many job opportunities in the agricultural field in the United States and an economy in mexico that was growing but only benefited the rich. Many poor Mexicans migrated to the United States. According to the book, “Mexican Immigrants In The United States” by Portes, Alejandro, Bach, Robert L. Between 1960 and 1970 the Mexican economy was growing at a rapid rate with only the top 5 percent benefiting from it. Unemployment and underemployment began to spread and income inequality got even wider. These events led to a migration of legal and illegal Mexican immigrant into the United States. Mexico became an economic paradise for those who were already wealthy. The rest who were left behind had no other choice than to

As the population of Latin America and the Caribbean raised in 1995 with a 190 percent increase (Gonzalez 199), the job markets in Mexico are becoming scarce and competitive. The living conditions of residents in provincial towns like in Cheran, “whose timber-based economy is in tatters” (Martinez 9) are greatly affected. Mexican immigrant workers are forced to cross the border and find a greener pasture in the United States, because “in 1994, Mexico was crippled by a profound-and-prolonged-economic crisis” (Martinez 8). With the huge influx of Mexican immigrant workers coming to the States in search for better jobs, the US citizens are concerned about the economic impact: jobs, government and public services. However, the Americans’ concern that the immigrants are draining the nation’s resources, is a sweeping statement, it is based on a myth. There are many recent studies that the immigrant’s population living in the United States helps the economy. Similarly, the Mexican government and immigrant families are grateful for their immigrant workers for lifting the ailing economy and the status of immigrant families. Immigrant workers, legal or illegal, are positively reshaping the economy of sending and receiving countries through these major myths.

Mexicans immigrated to the United States back in the 1800's (Stanford, 2006). During 1848 the United States took over a part of Mexico which is now the Southwest (Stanford, 2006). Mexicans living in these areas were Mexican citizens before the acquisition. The United States even went into agreements with Mexico to have Mexicans work in the United States. Mexicans were treated with cruelty, while working the agriculture fields for years. The United States made several agreements with Mexico to have the Mexicans come work in the United States while American soldiers were fighting in the world wars. The labor shortage that the United States went through was reason enough to have Mexicans migrate to the United States as laborers. The United

As crossing the border became a lot harder to do the crime rates went up, a lot of gangs, drug traffickers and professional smugglers became involved in all of this. A lot of the time immigrants would keep money on them for their trip to the US which caused a lot of kidnappings one case was in El Salvador when some victims from different countries were kidnapped demanded money when they refused they were all slaughtered. In another case there was 49 mutilated bodies and they were all dumped on the highway. This just goes to show why so many people wanted to leave, because their countries economy was bad and the crime rates were terrible. In other countries such as Brazil, some travel agencies actually try to sell package deals where they would catch a flight to Mexico and then meet a coyote where they then would be in America. Social class had a part in this as well, poor people had to pay a huge amount of money for the same privilege as the rich. If you were a poor Dominican than you had to take the more expensive, riskier and indirect route just to make it to Mexico.

Some of the very first Mexican’s migrated to the United States in the early 1900’s during Mexico’s Revolution. The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 and lasted until 1921. The United States kept out of the revolution although it did supply Mexico with weapons. Mexico was full of chaos, and there was no law or order within the country. Many early Mexicans left due to this factor, and went to the United States in search for a better life. When the United States entered WWI in 1917, there was a search for unskilled workers. During this time the U.S. was very welcoming and friendly to Mexican immigrants. But, when the United States was no longer in need of the Mexican workers they deported them back to Mexico. The U.S. sent mixed signals to the Mexican immigrants like this all the time. It was believed in the U.S. by governing officials that what may be necessary and beneficial at one point in time, may not be so at another. And, they acted accordingly to this fact.

García’s book can be very dense at times, providing the reader with many numbers, graphs, and statistics. Nevertheless, these statistics provide the reader with a better understanding on how El Paso was being shaped by Mexican immigrants; it also provides a new light on immigration during the nineteen and twentieth century’s in the United States. Many times Mexican immigration is overlooked, and thought of, as a recent event, when people think of nineteenth century immigration many think of the European immigration into the United States, yet García’s study shows that people were

U.S.A Economy: An increasingly vital role. Immigration Policy Focus. Volume 1, Issue 2. PP. 4-16.

In the 1930s, the start of the Great Depression greatly affected the migration of Mexican to the U.S. because of the lack of jobs, discrimination, and fear of deportation.

Many American citizens are responsible for illegal Mexican immigrants’ determination to enter the United States because numerous American citizen’s revenue money, drugs, and fame as a lifestyle which makes America the center of attraction for illegal immigrants to cross the border. It is clear that most Mexican immigrants transport an abundant amount of money payments and drugs across the U.S. border in return for more money so gangs and cartels can earn a recognized status through money and respect. Citizens of the U.S. have impacted and altered the American social economic status in a negative way. Most Mexican immigrants travel north in groups to cross the United States border to achieve their goal; live a better life so they can support themselves and their family. Although there are U.S. customs and border patrol agencies that have a duty to protect and secure the border from illegal aliens entering the U.S., some still successfully cross and enter the U.S. -Mexican border illegally. In the book The Devil’s Highway, Urrea explains the “Rules of the Game” where illegal immigrants experience a traitorous journey depending on their guides. Their country and group leader fail to successfully support the group and citizens of Mexico.

The United States is the world’s number one consumer of narcotics and thus 90% of cocaine seized in the U.S. comes from Mexico due to the close geographical boundaries it is easy to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. from Mexico. The U.S.’s demand for narcotics and other drugs creates an 18-39 billion dollar market each year, all coming solely from drug sales. Drug violence is a direct result of protecting each business 's product. Cartels like the Zetas use violence to create a “brand” for their franchise. The violent cartels create a sense of fear so no one gets in their way and so others will comply with their wishes and demands.

Born on September 5, 1967 in Mexicali, Mexico Guadalupe Ramirez was the first born child of her parents. The state she was born in is a small border town that connects to the California border. She was born into a lower class family that was struggling to make ends meet and at the age of five she migrated to the United States with her mother. During this period of time there was a large influx of Mexican migration to the United States that began in the early 20th century. There was a large demand for labor in the United States and the Mexican economy was struggling due to the political chaos that was taking place in Mexico in the 1960’s. In the 1980’s Mexican immigrants are the largest immigrant population in the United States. According to (Jie Zong and Jeanne Batalova) Mexicans accounted for 28 percent of the country’s 41.3 million foreign born. (citation)

I am writing in response to the article ‘Endless waves of Illegal Immigrants floods Rio Grande Valley” by Jana Winter for FOX NEWS on July 14, 2015. In this article, it mainly focuses its attention on the negative aspects of illegal immigrants and makes the reader believe that immigrants are the problem. The article, makes illegal immigrates seem like they are all criminals and villains. On top of that, this articles doe’s little to no explaining on the reasons for why immigrants to come to the United States. Having grandparents and parents who were illegal, I know some of the reasons and motives behind the decision to migrate to the United States such as escaping poverty, providing a better future for their kids, and the opportunity to pursue the American dream. If these points were added into this article, Americans would be more sympathetic to the situation of millions of immigrants and make movements to get legislation passed that would offer citizenship, work visa, and green cards to illegal immigrants.

(Portes, 2011) The United States continues to be a magnet for many people around the world because of the opportunities that are seen within this country. There are legal ways in which many people around the world enter, however, because of the demand for unskilled labor; many also migrate here through other means that are often illegal. These immigrants similar to the immigrants of old sought a better life in the United States because of the opportunity that is offered. Those who migrate to the United States illegally are often from countries that are in close proximity.

People have to realize that life in Mexico is a cruel and brutal cycle of not having money because you did not finish school and not having an education because you did not have any money. To Mexicans, the hope of a better life in America is worth the possibility of not making it across the border alive. Most migrants come to the United States as a part of an overall plan to earn an income for their families and yearn to return home, but those plans often get complicated once they

Now that one has examined the circumstances of Latin American immigration, one can now evaluate the impact on the economy and culture, which in part is related to people’s approval or disapproval of Latin American immigration. One of the foremost benefits of immigration is that it lowers the cost of