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Dear Reader,

During a time when immigration issues are grabbing headlines left and right it is important to educate yourself, not just about who is coming in and from where but also why.  Too often we are quick to see the most negative aspects of immigration (dropping wages and what is believed to be an abuse of public services), and yet we make the mistake of not putting into perspective why exactly people are leaving their homes for the U.S.  I’ve chosen to specifically address immigration from Mexico into the United States simply because it is a very hot topic right now and because, living in Arizona, it is something that has dominated our headlines for the past couple of months. 

After taking this course and seeing first hand the conditions that exist across the border it has become clearer that immigration to the U.S. from Mexico will not be stopping any time soon.   With state politicians touting ideas of building walls and closing borders, it is clear that stopping immigration, and specifically illegal immigration, is a priority for our state’s leaders; yet sealing the border will not address the source of Mexico-U.S. immigration.  With the integration of the U.S. and Mexican economies after the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, came a shimmer of hope for many Mexican people who saw it as an opportunity for economical benefit on both ends, and yet more than 10 years later this is not the case.  Though the U.S. has benefited from an expansive new labor force, the export of various goods, and the expansion of businesses, Mexico has seen very little of that benefit south of the border. 

Imagine you live on a farm and live a relatively comfortable life.  One day you find that you can no longer sell you crop because there is no longer a market or because you can no longer compete with American seller’s low prices.  Deprived of your income and your old way of life, you chose to relocate and find work in the city.  Upon arriving in a city like Nogales or Juarez you find that there is no where for you to live, and your only chance of shelter is to build you own home from scraps of metal and plastic.  Should you be fortunate you may be able to find a job in one of the American owned maquiladoras where you can make up to 7 dollars a day.  Though the wages are higher than most other jobs you later learn that a gallon of milk will cost you about half a day’s worth of work.  On top of food and clothing expenses you must now pay for water, electricity, and maybe even rent on the home that you yourself built!  Now imagine for a moment that several miles away, across the border there is a country where a minimum wage of 6 dollars is paid by the hour and there are more opportunities for you and you family.  What would you do?

This situation is faced by many everyday in Mexico.  I can only hope that anyone reading this that has a negative opinion of Mexican immigrants take a moment and try to learn more about life south of the border.  One of the best things that I feel can help aid Mexico and help slow immigration to the U.S. is, not to close the border and forget about everything behind it, but to give Mexico the economic boost that we promised when NAFTA was approved.

                                                                                    Thank You,

                                                                                    Lucia Luna