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Having observed family and friends who immigrated to this country over two decades ago in pursuit of a brighter future, I will be looking at the reasons why numerous immigrants are willing to navigate a border known for its danger and treacherous conditions to reach a land often referred to as the land of opportunities.
What we call The United States of America, the land of the free, attracts an average of 2,700 illegal immigrants each day, leaving their families and risking their own lives to reach the promised land.
Often, we hear only the superficial facts in the news, but seldom the real stories of the captured immigrants. Let's take the time to listen to the real stories of what I call the unforgotten children and women.
Many immigrants are compelled to make the difficult decision to cross a border in the pursuit of improving their lifestyles and securing a better future for their families within the American economy.
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While most individuals take advantage of the opportunities in the economy, immigrants often lack this advantage.
This country has provided us with basic necessities and more, offering the opportunity to dream and realize those dreams. However, in the past year alone, there has been a 50% increase in the number of immigrant children attempting to cross the border, and this percentage continues to rise annually.
Many of these children have compelling reasons to leave their families and embark on a dangerous journey north, often with little or no money, wearing only the clothes on their backs.
One poignant example is a 12-year-old boy from Honduras, not much older than my brother and cousin, who chose to leave his mother with only a grocery plastic bag containing clean clothes and a picture of his mother.
His journey was fraught with experiences no child his age should endure - begging for food, sleeping in the streets, and waiting for the next train. The train, though the fastest means of travel without funds for a coyote or smuggler, is also the most perilous. Many have lost their lives attempting to jump El Diablo, a notorious train. When asked why he wanted to come to the US, his response was simple: "I want to work so I can help my mom and buy her a big house." A 12-year-old boy's dream, in stark contrast to the dreams of most U.S. children of the same age.
It's crucial to recognize that some children are not leaving because they want to but because they have no other choice. They are attempting to escape the clutches of gangs in their home countries, where non-members face the grim prospect of death if they do not join.
Parents often hire coyotes to bring their children to the U.S. for a better future, but some, tragically, do not make it. Children decide to take the chance rather than joining a gang. These are the children many people are turning their backs on, children with good moral values.
As for the women attempting to cross the border, they are not only risking their lives but also the horrifying possibility of falling victim to human trafficking. Shockingly, there are cases where the same individuals they pay to help them cross the border end up kidnapping them and forcing them into slavery.
Within our own country, many immigrant women find themselves trapped in human trafficking. The majority come to the U.S. to escape abusive relationships or to seek a better life for the children they left behind. Single mothers, unable to provide for their kids, look north for hope. The question arises: Is this the cost women should have to pay for a chance at freedom or a better future?
Many immigrant women resort to selling their bodies to pay the coyotes who guide them across the border. Those who refuse may meet a tragic end, their unrecognizable bodies found in ditches marked only by a cross with an empty name.
The economy in their countries is so dire that individuals are willing to risk their lives to secure a better future for their families. Immigrants are not merely people attempting to take jobs or criminals, as the news often portrays. Each individual has a unique story to tell, resembling people we know – children like our little brothers or sisters, and women and men like our mothers and fathers who sacrifice for the well-being of their children.
Everyone should have a chance to stay in the United States of America, as we are all immigrants. Our nation was built by individuals from different countries who came together to shape what the U.S. is today. Immigrants are not just statistics; they are human beings with dreams, hopes, and struggles.
In conclusion, understanding the stories behind immigration is crucial to fostering empathy and breaking down stereotypes. We must recognize that immigrants are not a monolithic group but individuals facing unique challenges. By acknowledging the untold journeys of immigrant children and women, we can build a more compassionate society that values the contributions and humanity of those seeking a better life in the land of opportunities.
The Reality of Immigration: Challenges Faced by Children and Women. (2017, Apr 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/informative-speech-over-immigration-essay
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