Kelly, a MCC SALT participant, is working with a MCC partner organization, Instituto de Estudios e Investigación Intercultural (INESIN) in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. She completes her term in August.
I’ll venture a guess that almost everyone who has, like me, lived in the U.S. for the past 23 years has interacted with Latin Americans in one context or another. In 2009, the U.S. had the 2nd largest Hispanic population in the world (U.S. Census Bureau). The “immigration issue” is everywhere and certainly provokes strong emotions – it can be polarizing and complex.
A view from the other side
This year, I have had the opportunity to experience this issue from the other side of the border wall, and as I do, complexity adds to complexity. From my current vantage point, I’m reminded that Mexico isn’t only a country to be escaped, it’s also a destination. This country receives many immigrants from other Latin American countries and the majority of Central American immigrants cross the border right here in Chiapas.
The southern border of Mexico is overflowing with migration checkpoints. It is not uncommon to be riding on a bus near the southern border, only to have migration officials trudge on, ask for identification and yank off Central Americans who don’t present proper identification.
Altered family and country dynamics
My experiences here have also reminded me that migration doesn’t only change the composition of the U.S. Mexico is dramatically changed too. An incredible number of Mexicans I’ve met (especially those living in rural community) have family working in “the North.” Those without documentation required by the U.S. face an incredibly dangerous journey both coming and going. Many don’t reach their final destination.
Members of the community Pablo L. Sidar clear weeds as part of the reforestation efforts supported by INESIN’s Strengthening Communities project.
There are Mexicans who don’t want to leave their home and family, but many see no other opportunity to provide for their family. This reality can be attributed to many factors, such as the implementation of NAFTA, but it’s also important to remember that there are national organizations, like INESIN, one of MCC Mexico’s partners, walking beside rural Mexican communities as they work toward increased self-sufficiency. One way INESIN does this is through its Strengthening Communities project which strives, in part, to provide Mexican families with an alternative to migration through family gardens which produce food for self-consumption as well as a possible source of supplemental income.
Ivan’s story
Of all the migration stories I’ve heard while here, Ivan’s sticks with me the most. Christmas Eve found me on a bus to the airport in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital of Chiapas. I spent the one hour-plus bus ride chatting with the driver, Ivan. Like me, he was away from home that Christmas Eve. As we talked, he told me of the eight years he spent in Georgia working his way up the chain of command at IHOP. Those years included two harrowing border crossings, one walking through the desert with the help of a coyote at age 16, the other four years later after a visit home, this time swimming.
Ivan remembered his time in the U.S. with fondness. He considered his wage exceptional in comparison to what he would have been making in Mexico with only a high-school education. He made great friends. He even named his first daughter after an IHOP co-worker. After the birth of his daughter, a few years back, he made the decision to stay in Mexico. “She’s my world,” he told me.
Now Ivan works as a bus driver for Mexico’s OCC enterprise. He said it was the best work someone without a college degree could hope for and feels grateful for the work, even though his family lives over three hours away and the work doesn’t permit him to get home as often as he would like.
Dreams for the future
Ivan dreams of being an English teacher one day. I hope he has the chance to realize his dream and if he does, I have no doubt that many of his students would end up with his Georgia twang.
This is a shortened version of Kelly’s original blog post. View the full post here.
Photos from: U.S. fence causes increase in border crossing deaths and INESIN – Strengthening Communities