Introduction
Enrique’s Journey , a book authored by Sonia Nazario gives an astonishing encounter of a Honduran Boy who passed through perilous encounters after being left by his mother who migrated to US. The author portrays that migration of women to foreign countries to seek for employment has become a common phenomenon in US (Nazario, 2007, p. 3).
A careful analysis of literature has shown that Lourdes, leaves behind her son, Enrique promising him to come back home shortly. Consequently, this scenario has got an adverse effect to both the mother and her son. From this case, one can analyze that there are underlying factors facilitate migration of women to US leaving their children behind. It is on this ground that this paper aims to discuss the problem, the possible causes and propose possible solutions.
Summary of the problem
Research has shown that women from developing countries want to earn more money for their kids and family. Since the immediate working conditions in their native countries are not favorable, they opt to migrate into other parts of the world in search for greener pastures (Briggs, 1996, p.370). Their assumption is that in US they will get an opportunity to earn huge income as reflected in quote, “Would I come to United States where I could earn much more money and send cash back to my children?” (Nazario, 2007, p. 3).
To some extent, research evidences have shown that majority of the women who migrate into developed countries illegally. Moreover, there are those who acquire legal immigration documents as it is evident from the quote “Since 2000, nearly a million additional immigrants annually, on average, have arrived legally, or become legal residents…” (Nazario, 2007, p. 87).
It is certain that poverty is one of the major factors that propel women to move from their native countries to US. In most cases, majority of them migrate hoping that they will soon get back with adequate wealth to sustain their families. Evidence from literature has shown that there are other key factors that trigger immense migration of women to US and this issue has becomes a problem (Briggs, 1996, p. 370).
First cause of the problem (Economic factors)
One of the major causes of women immigration to US is the desire to accumulate capital for investment in their native countries. Research has shown that a significant proportion of immigrant women assume that they can accumulate immense wealth and send it back to their families at home. This has resulted to an increase in numbers of immigrants women in US as evident from the quote, “Each year, an estimated 700,000 immigrants enter the United States illegally” (Nazario, 2007, p. 37).
In line with this, it is worth to note that gender roles have changed. Previously, men were largely involved in commercial activities in order to earn income and keep their families while women concentrated on domestic chores. Due to the rise of the cost of living, women have dominated the immigration flows in order to participate in the labor force to earn livelihood.
Second cause of the Problem (Social Factors)
Recent survey and research evidences have shown that social factors have largely contributed towards the move. It has been noted that majority of American families have experienced series of fates including increased divorce cases (Briggs, 1996, p. 370). To support this claim, the author writes that, “In recent decades, the increase in divorce and family disintegration in Latin America has left many single mothers without the means to feed and raise their children.” (Nazario, 2007, p. 116)
Therefore one might tend to assume that if such issues are common in a developed country, the situation could be worse in developing nations. From this assumption, it is probable that increased number of divorced women opt to leave their children behind to go and work in US. It is also arguable that most of women whose men have moved to US leaving them behind to look after the children also migrate to seek for marital reunion (Briggs, 1996, p. 370).
Third cause of the problem (Psychological factors)
Basically, women from developing world have a strange perspective toward life in US. Majority of them think that living and working in US is fun since it is a wealthy nation. Factually, women who have attained a working age are not willing to remain under the domestic domain in their native countries. Instead they have undying quest to settle and work in US (Briggs, 1996, p. 370).
Nevertheless, majority of them end up being disillusioned by the nature of life in US. It is important to note that most developing countries have got patriarchal societies where women are expected to remain submissive to their husbands. Such cultures discourage women from abandoning their feminine roles. On the same note, men are highly valued and operate in the public domain unlike the case in US.
Therefore, women opt to move from their native nations to US to seek freedom and flexibility to sustain their families (Nazario, 2007, p. 112). Moreover, it is worth to note that US economy is much diversified thus offering adequate employment opportunities for immigrants. Study has shown that most of the industries are in great need for cheap labor from immigrants. This makes it possible for immigrants to survive despite the perilous experiences that result from alienation and incongruity with US lifestyle.
Solution for the problems
Empirical research evidences have revealed that immigration policies in US have become a major factor that accelerates settlement of immigrants in the foreign land.
For instance, it is apparent that there are policies that encourage naturalization of immigrants, a factor that has led to immense movement of people from Mexico, Vietnam and other countries to US (Briggs, 1996, p. 370). Research evidences have shown that approximately 66% of Mexicans and 56% of Asian were naturalized to become American citizens in 19th Century (Jesse, 2011, p.49).
Since this has become problematic, as a government minister I would ensure that naturalization policies are reformed in order to limit the number of women migrating into the country as investors. In line with this, it is important to check on the economic conditions that encourages immigrants into US.
For example, there is need to check on labor conditions in industries to ensure that workers are well paid. This will encourage Native American to work other than importing cheap labor from other countries (Jesse, 2011, p.44). This measure will not only help the native citizens from loosing investment and employment opportunities but will also spare the misery for children who are deserted by their parents to lag in poverty at home.
That notwithstanding, in order to eradicate the social factors that facilitate immigration, I would advocate for limited incentives for foreigners in order to discourage them from investing or living in the country. This can be enhanced by making the tenure for settlement shorter to ensure that immigrants renew their contract after two years at a fee (Jesse, 2011, p.370).
At this point, it is clear that not every immigrant will be able to raise the fee to renew their contract and hence, majority will be compelled to go back to their country. Children are the main victim of loneliness and misery hence this measure will facilitate reunion with the parents.
Moreover, I would demean the perspective that living in US is fun by establishing reforms that will only allow migration of those immigrants with skilled labor. This will help to discourage immigration of females who hop from firm to firm in search for cheap labor whereas in the real sense, it is uneconomical for the nation to sustain their well being (Jesse, 2011, p. 51).
In addition to this, I would enforce the current immigration reforms that will require immigrants to produce legal entry documents in to the country. This will help to discourage illegal entry. In this case those who will be caught without legal documents will be subject to prosecution (Briggs, 1996, p. 370). To some extent, illegal immigrants will be deported immediately back to their native countries.
However, it is also recommended that the government should not put more obstacles on immigration policies in order to minimize cases of people getting easier access to other countries. In fact, establishing more radical reforms will not only encourage entry of skilled immigrants who are and ambitious but also enable the country to gain monetarily from their investment (Jesse, 2011, p. 53). Consequently, this will provide better life for children who rely on revenue generated from exported labor.
Conclusion
To recap it all, Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario is a book that exposes the reader to the adversaries that emerge due to intense rates of immigration by Women to US. It is evident that children who are left behind face perilous experiences of loneliness, alienation, insecurity and poverty.
This is evident from Enrique’s encounters after he was left by his mother. At some point, he decides to follow her up in US. Migration of women to US is a major problem that is caused by social, economic and psychological-related factors. However, the key solution to the problem is to enforce radical immigration reforms to ensure that only skilled immigrants get an opportunity to settle and work in US.
References
Briggs, V. (1996). Immigration policy and the U.S. economy: An institutional perspective. Journal of Economic Issues, 30(2), 370-370.
Jesse, D. (2011). Immigration policy, criminalization and the growth of the immigration industrial complex: Restriction, expulsion, and eradication of the undocumented in the U.S. Western Criminology Review, 12(2), 35-54.
Nazario, S. (2007). Enrique’s Journey. New York: Random House, Inc.