Undocumented (Illegal) Undocumented (Illegal) ImmigrantsImmigrants

in the in the

United StatesUnited StatesFrom: Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society, by Leo Chavez

SeparationSeparation

Migrating for work is culturally and Migrating for work is culturally and socially constructedsocially constructed

1. U.S. Employers lure Mexican workers to the U.S.

2. Part of family history/stories told of opportunity by relatives

3.Part of local folklore, a popular theme in traditional and modern Mexican songs.

Migration as a Part of Family History Migration as a Part of Family History Example: Enrique ValenzuelaExample: Enrique Valenzuela

1. Father worked in Bracero Program for 12 yrs.

• From 1942-1967, a work program where the U.S. government allowed American employers to hire Mexican laborers for short periods of time

2. Enrique worked on a rancho (ejido) while his father was in the U.S., soon left because there was no work and family was going hungry (1963)

Enrique cont…Enrique cont…3.Enrique went to Mexico city to find work: first

worked selling produce, then worked in a small factory making cars earning 22 American dollars a week,

Only enough to pay his rent.

4. In 1970 his father was working in San Diego and Enrique wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps

5.His father laid the foundation for Enrique’s move and illustrates that most Mexicans try to find work in their country before moving to the U.S.

Target EarnersTarget Earners1. Earn a certain amount of money then return

to their country

2.Common among young unmarried men and women who want to help their parents

3.Immigrants will use money for a number of purposes

A. Save money to build a house in Mexico

B. For college in Mexico

Central American ImmigrantsCentral American ImmigrantsReasons for immigrating to the U.S.

1.Dissatisfaction with the local economy

2.Political conflict

a. Rebel military groups fighting the government

b. Disappearances/kidnapping

c. Torture

d. Arbitrary Arrest

Crossing the BorderCrossing the Border

Border Tunnel

Border Tunnel

CostsCostsCoyote: an experienced Mexican who will help

illegals cross the border.

• Costs thousands of dollars

• Many times Coyotes will take money and not assist families or leave families in remote areas

• Coyotes lie about the money they received and ask for more

Dangers Dangers 1.Crossing rivers: drowning

2.Deserts: Hot and dry in the day time, cold and dry at night, die of heat exhaustion

3.Mountains: many illegals become disoriented and cannot find their way out of the mountains or deserts

4.Border Patrol: have been known to shoot immigrants

5.American citizens: vigilantly groups (minutemen)

Dangers Cont….Dangers Cont….6. Crossing busy highways in southern

California, immigrants have misjudged the speed of vehicles and have been killed

Life Outside San DiegoLife Outside San DiegoLiving camps outside of major cities

• Illegals will dig holes in the ground and find cardboard to cover themselves in to protect them from the elements

• Advantage to living in a hole: Border patrol cannot see them

• Disadvantage: Fleas, rats, snakes, water from rain, brush fires, and disease have all been known to kill immigrants

Life Outside San Diego Cont…Life Outside San Diego Cont…

Disease: from lack of clean drinking water, waste remove, and using such things as pesticide buckets for drinking water

Gang violence: Gangs routinely come into the camps and arbitrarily kill workers for no reason…or for initiation into a gang

Learning to Live as an “Illegal Alien” Learning to Live as an “Illegal Alien”

Living in Constant Fear Living in Constant Fear Many illegals have stated the following:Many illegals have stated the following:

• ““We’re living in a chicken coop”We’re living in a chicken coop”

• ““In all of the these 16 years I’ve lived in the U.S. In all of the these 16 years I’ve lived in the U.S. it feels if though I’ve been in jail. I don’t feel it feels if though I’ve been in jail. I don’t feel free. I came to this country to work not to do free. I came to this country to work not to do things you shouldn’t do. If you go out, like things you shouldn’t do. If you go out, like when you go out for fun, it’s always in the back when you go out for fun, it’s always in the back of your mind, will the INS show up? Or when of your mind, will the INS show up? Or when you go to work you think all the time, from the you go to work you think all the time, from the moment you walk out of your home you think, moment you walk out of your home you think, will the INS stop me on the way or when I’m at will the INS stop me on the way or when I’m at work?”work?”

Living in Constant Fear Cont… Living in Constant Fear Cont… • Home as a refugeHome as a refuge

• Parents will not let children outside of the Parents will not let children outside of the homehome

• Parents not apart of child’s life in school Parents not apart of child’s life in school because of fearbecause of fear

• Illegals will not seek medical help when Illegals will not seek medical help when neededneeded

• Illegals find it difficult to seek legal help Illegals find it difficult to seek legal help when they are wrongedwhen they are wronged