Sometimes, immigration to other countries looks like seeking ways for survival rather than fortune. The Maya people turned out to be forced to leave their home country because Guatemala had nothing to ensure its citizens’ decent lives. Therefore, each narrative included in the article “Maya Youth in Los Angeles” by Alicia Ivonne Estrada helps a reader to determine the factors that affected the Maya immigration to the U.S.
Many Mayas got accustomed to migrating, though it did not mean they enjoyed abandoning their country. For instance, Abraham said that Guatemala’s social and economic inequalities induced his decision to migrate. Because of this, he could not attend school, and this situation strengthened his attraction to the U.S. The poor access to social serves as the “push factor” for Abraham’s immigration.
On the other hand, the U.S. was known as a state of opportunity and equality, where everyone could find their place. Like many citizens of Guatemala, Abraham heard numerous stories about the “American Dream” in the media, which only piqued his desire to leave for the land of fortune. Although it could be regarded as the “pull factor” that attracted immigration to the U.S., the reality in this state was far from ideal. Media always left ideologically justified racial discrimination, criminalization, and inequalities unsaid.
The narrative also gives a hint about a complicated socio-political context that influenced the decision of many Mayas, including Abraham, to migrate to the U.S. The reconstruction period after the war in Guatemala was marked by the failed introduction of the Peace Accords. In addition, signing the Central American Free Trade Agreement deepened the inequalities in the suffering country. Thus, it played an encouraging role in the growing immigration.
To conclude, Abraham’s narrative demonstrates how Maya people were forced to leave Guatemala. Poor education and other socio-economic opportunities, on the one hand, and frequent stories about success for every migrant in the U.S., on the other, represent the main factors affecting the immigration expansion from Guatemala. Moreover, the failed peaceful policies added to the aggravated situation and perpetuated migration.