Immigration Issue and the Solutions to Human Trafficking
Since May 27, our team have had a great schedule for everyday. IBERO University was our first stop to visit. IBERO is one of the country's private leading academic and research institutions where students are provided rigorous programs of research and study preparing them for life, educating the whole person through the exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.
There we were given two great presentations about the overview of the Immigration issues in Mexico, which was very compelling to me. Before I came here, I thought immigration was just restricted to Mexican people who go to America to pursue dreams of their own. After the presentations and the exchange of discussions, I found immigration issues that involve many people from other countries---central America countries and Africa countries, such as Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, is a very serious problem in Mexico. The sufferings and the inhumane treatment that immigrants endured are beyond my expectation.
The immigrants took the train going through South to North in Mexico to die for the chances of working in US to help support their families south of the border. When I was told that their basic life couldn’t be guaranteed in their countries, and that they are suffering not only from war or inhumane treatment in their national context, but from the horrible trafficking and assault from the illegal immigration broker or the policeman, I was very shocked and felt extremely sorry for them. Since 1970s, the situation has been worse for them.
In October 1994, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) launched Operation Gatekeeper to crack down on people entering the country through San Diego, California. Militarizing the border with more border patrol agents and resources has forced immigrants to cross through the Imperial Desert or over the mountains north of Tecate. Global Exchange states that the number of immigrant deaths has increased over 600 percent since 1994. Several thousands have died along the U.S./Mexico border since Operation Gatekeeper began. Mexicans have drowned in canals and rivers and have died of dehydration, hypothermia and heat stress in the desert. Some have been shot by ranchers in Arizona and Texas. In the year 2000 alone, 369 immigrants perished trying to cross the border - almost half from exposure to heat or cold.
Solely from these figures, we couldn’t tell what kind of life the immigrants lived in Mexico without witnessing and experiencing. Through visiting Tochan—Nuestra Casa, the shelter for migrants and refugees, I came to realize that there are lots of people who are struggling for the right to live and are suffering from unequal treatment. In Casa Tocha, I saw Michael, Francisco, David, and Louis from Honduras struggling for better life for themselves and their families. Every one of their stories are compelling and rendered me to tears. Though life is very tough for them, they are still smiling to life and striving for their dreams in the future---Michael’s shoe store, Francisco’s music dream, Louis’s handcraft studio. What impressed me most is that they didn’t want to be given in charity, but to earn for their life with their hard word and pride. I am very respectful to them and do believe they can realize their dreams in no time.
Another impressive observations for me is what those volunteers, program organizers, researchers, etc., have done for the universal human right. They have been committed to this great cause despite difficulties and potential dangers they constantly encounter, such as Claudia and Adriana from IBERO, Joseph and Kadircan from Casa Tochan, who all risk their lives to make a difference to these immigrants who are in plight. They set a great example to me and are the real heroes in my heart!
There we were given two great presentations about the overview of the Immigration issues in Mexico, which was very compelling to me. Before I came here, I thought immigration was just restricted to Mexican people who go to America to pursue dreams of their own. After the presentations and the exchange of discussions, I found immigration issues that involve many people from other countries---central America countries and Africa countries, such as Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, is a very serious problem in Mexico. The sufferings and the inhumane treatment that immigrants endured are beyond my expectation.
The immigrants took the train going through South to North in Mexico to die for the chances of working in US to help support their families south of the border. When I was told that their basic life couldn’t be guaranteed in their countries, and that they are suffering not only from war or inhumane treatment in their national context, but from the horrible trafficking and assault from the illegal immigration broker or the policeman, I was very shocked and felt extremely sorry for them. Since 1970s, the situation has been worse for them.
In October 1994, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) launched Operation Gatekeeper to crack down on people entering the country through San Diego, California. Militarizing the border with more border patrol agents and resources has forced immigrants to cross through the Imperial Desert or over the mountains north of Tecate. Global Exchange states that the number of immigrant deaths has increased over 600 percent since 1994. Several thousands have died along the U.S./Mexico border since Operation Gatekeeper began. Mexicans have drowned in canals and rivers and have died of dehydration, hypothermia and heat stress in the desert. Some have been shot by ranchers in Arizona and Texas. In the year 2000 alone, 369 immigrants perished trying to cross the border - almost half from exposure to heat or cold.
Solely from these figures, we couldn’t tell what kind of life the immigrants lived in Mexico without witnessing and experiencing. Through visiting Tochan—Nuestra Casa, the shelter for migrants and refugees, I came to realize that there are lots of people who are struggling for the right to live and are suffering from unequal treatment. In Casa Tocha, I saw Michael, Francisco, David, and Louis from Honduras struggling for better life for themselves and their families. Every one of their stories are compelling and rendered me to tears. Though life is very tough for them, they are still smiling to life and striving for their dreams in the future---Michael’s shoe store, Francisco’s music dream, Louis’s handcraft studio. What impressed me most is that they didn’t want to be given in charity, but to earn for their life with their hard word and pride. I am very respectful to them and do believe they can realize their dreams in no time.
Another impressive observations for me is what those volunteers, program organizers, researchers, etc., have done for the universal human right. They have been committed to this great cause despite difficulties and potential dangers they constantly encounter, such as Claudia and Adriana from IBERO, Joseph and Kadircan from Casa Tochan, who all risk their lives to make a difference to these immigrants who are in plight. They set a great example to me and are the real heroes in my heart!