Mexican immigration to the USA

1- Mexico and the American dream

One wonder what it’s the American dream ?

There are different définitions of the American dream because people have different dreams and opinions. But the one that comes up most often is that the American dream is the belief that everyone in the US has the chance to be successful and happy if they work hard. It’s the idea that anyone living in the United States, through their hard work, courage and determination, can achieve success.

Here we will see how the Mexicans see and live the American dream ?

First of all we must remember the living conditions of the Mexican . Majority of Mexicans live in poverty. Most of the inhabitants do not have access to essential things like education, health or even food. We can therefore conclude that the living conditions are not good.Add to this the conditions of terror put in place by the various traffics. The Mexican are afraid.

It is under these conditions that the American dream was born and is growing more and more. Mexico’s neighbour is a rich and developed country which is the US . The Mexican people envy the American way of life. It is a place where people do not know misery. So, for the Mexicans, the United States is an escape from all the misery. This special place brings hope. For Mexicans, the USA will allow their children to have access to education therefore to succeed in life and to enrich themselves. Above all, to hope for great prospects. Some Mexicans leave Mexico without the desire to return and others leave Mexico to increase their wealth and then come back to live peacefully in their country.

To conclude the Amercican dream allows the Mexicans to have ambition.

2- The immigration to the USA (testimony)

What could be better than someone who has experienced this immigration to testify to us. So today we have a special guest.

Hello, My name is Paola Gonzalez and I am 23 years old I am  mexican but I live in the USA more precisely in San Diego.

I will present the story of my family and especially how we lived immigration in the USA

Leaving Mexico was painful but it was the best decision. First of all living conditions in mexico was the worst. Moreover Medical conditions were deplorable, a simple cough syrup was expensive. However Leaving the country costs us a lot. I used all my savings to have access to a truck full of immigrants, we were all sticking one against the other. The conditions of the trip were horrible and it was too warm so everyone sweating. We were smuggling across the US-Mexico border. The last 50 meters were the most difficult because we thought we were going to be arrested by the police.

By car, the border are lines of cars waiting in front of a sort of huge highway toll.

It is also possible to cross on foot. The route consists of a huge corridor where we cross in single file. But I found it more dangerous than the car.

There was a corridor for the regulars, that is to say for those who go back and forth daily between the two countries. For others, you must already have a valid ESTA. ESTA is the first essential document you must have to hope to go to the United States if you are a tourist. I did not have time to do all the administrative formalities so I went to see an organization that brought Mexican people to the USA.

You may ask why I was in such a hurry ? Well it’s because in mexico especially in my village violence is omnipresent, so it was the only solution to stay alive. You had to go or die. For some immigrant who did not have enough money they decided to pitch their tents on the Mexican side a few meters from the border.

To conclude the migration to the USA and always complicated because either the requests are refused or it takes a lot of time. Or you have to go clandestinely sometimes in difficult conditions. And for those who are unlucky, they must remain in the misery, the violence and the poor living conditions of Mexico.

3- The life of Mexicans in the USA (testimony)

When we arrived in the United States we were destabilized. Indeed it was an unknown land where we didn’t know anyone. There was no one to help us . For a few weeks, we lived on the street until I found a job . But find work was very hard because I didn’t speak English very well .

But one day I met a young man who owns an association that helps Mexican people who have just arrived in the USA. Thanks to this man I found a job and he supported us during these difficult trials. This job was very hard because I had to wear heavy objects all days

To conclude despite the fact everything was very difficult, we managed to integrate but above all to have a stable situation.

4- The Mexican American frontier

The Mexico–United States border is an international border separating Mexico and the United States, extending from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. The border traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from urban areas to deserts. The Mexico–United States border is the most frequently crossed border in the world. The US-Mexico border has been under intense pressure for years.

The American-Mexican border separates two different standards of living with a developed and rich area in the north and a developing area struck by poverty in the South.

The rate of illegal migration has increased a lot, so surveillance has been stepped up during these years, the policemen have become less lenient. Between Mexico and the USA there has always been a history of immigration. This has strengthened the separation between the two countries. To try to renew contact between the two nations, various elements are set up like swings between the two countries.

At the border we can sometimes observe separate families who find themselves and who share a moment together through the great wall.

This border divides the Mexican people because it separates the people who left and what are forced to stay. On the American side, this border also divides populations because some consider migration policy too harsh and unfair. Between Mexico and the America, there is also a border which is the language. The langage barrier is sometimes difficult to overcome. This means that even when Mexicans arrive in the United States, there is still the language.

Today, migration is all the more difficult because the American president is against Mexican immigration, the various agreements between Mexico and the United States are compromised.
The United States is increasingly trying to close the borders.
It is therefore more difficult for Mexicans to migrate.

Shaminah JEAN