The Eye Opening "Read Me"

By: Cindy Orellana

  

          People have a biased belief that immigrants come to the US and rob Americans of their opportunities for jobs. But are those really the only reasons?

            The top reasons why people immigrate are they believe coming to America secures them financially in the future, high standard of living, education, political reasons, needs of being in a different environment, and in search of their family members.

            Although most people think it is a better life in America it is a huge challenge to get here. The majority of the people coming to the United States are from Mexico but there is a small percent of people who come from central and South America. The people who come from Central America have the hardest journey to endure. A popular way of heading to the U.S. is by train jumping. There are horrible stories of train jumping to America, bodies being disemboweled and ripped to pieces.

In Enrique’s journey he talks about how he witnessed people falling off the trains and having body parts cut off.

Enrique’s reason for his journey to America was to find his mother who left him at a very young age. Just like Enrique, many children are leaving their homes at a young age and risking so much to find a family member. If you put yourself in his shoes you would start to question yourself if it is even worth it to go through all those things just for a family member, for most people it is worth it.

Another problem these immigrants from Central America are the cartels that kidnap and abuse incoming immigrants. Enrique was violently hit and left with out a cent to his name on his way. In one occasion his clothes were ripped off and was left bare.

People who believe that immigrating is simple and it comes with no dangers. In reality most people if they really knew what they had to go through they wouldn’t take this journey, it is possibly one of the hardest experiences to go through. But it also comes with the greatest reward. When you finally reach the finish line and you find what you are looking for it is like completing your life.

If your parents left you for many years and you are missing the feeling of love or just your parents companionship, what would you do?

I know personally if my mother left me for years once I would go to extremes to find her. I don’t think I would be able to survive without her at any moment. It understandable to leave your parents at a certain point but when you’re young you need your family at all times. Grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles are dear to us but none like our parents. There is a special connection between mother and child, father and child. The love felt is different.

This goes out to serve as an eye opening “read me”. People aren’t only here to work but to find their missing half, their missing mom, missing dad.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. That will forever remain as wise words.