Running head: REFLECTION - MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS
Reflection - Historical Implications
Rosalba Assaf
TESOL/507
AUGUST 4, 2014
NONA HALL
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REFLECTION - MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS
Abstract
The continent US is border by two countries: Mexico and Canada. However most note
worthy immigration events through American history have focus on the US southern border
rather than its northern border. It is not uncommon to read and hear about illegal Mexicans
trying to cross into the US. But have there ever been any cases of Canadian citizens trying to
gain illegal entry to the US? Probably. But it is not as common place as the assault on the US
southern border. This reflection will discuss a brief history of the development of America and
Mexico and the relationship between these two countries. It also discusses the reasons that
Mexicans migrate to the US and the many challenges and problems that they face upon entering
into the US.
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REFLECTION - MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS
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Reflection - Historical Implications
All levels of American government (local, state, and national) have acknowledged that
there is a definite issue/problem with the influx of Mexican citizens trying to illegally get into the
US. However the task that US leaders need to accomplish is to address and find a solution to the
Mexican immigration reality. Some leaders and American citizens believed the Mexican
immigration situation is a major crisis and out of control and they want to take drastic measures
to stop Mexican immigration. Other leaders and citizens believe that there is a minimal threat at
best and want to open up the borders or take a liberal stands with immigration policies. This
leads a big question: how do we legislate and enforce immigration laws and policies for all
immigrants including Mexicans? In short, what is the US going to do to resolve the Mexican
immigration situation?
Knowing that there is a Mexican migration situation a question arises. Why do Mexicans
seek refuge in the US by any means necessary? To better understand this question let’s examine
the history, development and relationship between the US and Mexico. When America was less
than hundred years old, she was looking to expand west of her original 13 colonies. Among the
western horizon was the Texas territory which happened to be controlled by Mexico. This was in
the early 18 hundreds. (Encyclopedia of American History: Expansion and Reform, 1813 to
1855, Revised Edition, vol. IV) Both America and Mexico were young countries. America had
strong European roots from England and France while Mexico was embedded with a Spanish
heritage. Both countries were primary agriculture. Through a series of conflicts and negotiations
America gained Texas from Mexico. After America annexed Texas she grew both physically and
economically with the aid of the Industrial of Revolution. In contrast, Mexico remained an
agriculture state and did not grow as powerful as America. America had more technological and
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industrial advances and more access to a wide variety of knowledge brought to the US by
immigrants from other countries. With this the US became the World’s number one
powerhouse. Mexico remained an agriculture nation sometimes being lump together in the
same category as a third world nation. With this said everyone wants to come to America for a
better way of life.
I want to paint a scenario to illustrate a Mexican immigrant’s reality that he confronts
when crossing upon entering the United States. The night air is hot and humid with the large
moon hanging over the sky somewhere just south of the Texas Mexican border. Juan sweats
profusely and takes a deep breath as he dashes the last 50 yards towards his dream. His goal is
the Texas border was he believes is the gate way to a better way of life. However crossing the
threshold into the US is only the first step in Juan’s journey to gain success in America. While
he might have had an impoverished in Mexico Juan has just bought a whole new set of troubles.
He has no documents to allow him to do anything legal in the US. As such everything that he
does has to be under the radar in order to avoid detection and deportation by the US border patrol
and immigration. What forced Juan to go to the extreme of having to sneak in to the US to begin
with? Juan is a composite of many illegal Mexican immigrants in the US. Juan most likely
sought American soil because of economics. Mexico is a poor country and job opportunities are
limited. Many Mexican citizens come to America to better the economic lot in life. Most
Mexicans are trying to find a better quality of life in America. Financial reasons are the number
one driving force motivating Mexican migration. So Juan has successfully passed in to the Texas
town of Laredo. Now what? He has no documentation and 25 pesos in his pocket. Juan has to
find some economic means to support himself. Most likely Juan will seek shelter with other
Mexican immigrants. Juan will most likely end up doing farm work getting paid under the table.
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He will live underground and try to blend in as an illegal Hispanic to avoid confrontation with
authorities. Juan might make it a day, a week, a year but Juan realizes that his “day of
reckoning” with INS will come but for now he is grateful to be in the US he wants to make as
much money as he can perhaps to send back home and or to better himself.
The Mexican immigrant population is a subculture of the US Latino population. The
main thing both populations have in common is the Spanish language. Many American citizens
both black and white have the misconception that all Latino persons who speak Spanish share the
same cultural background. This is the number one Latino stereotype that it is face by the
Hispanic community. Schools need to recognize the different cultures background within the
Hispanic population. The Hispanic population in US is extremely diverse and can be brokendown into many sub cultures. To illustrate the subculture difference one can contrast the cultural
values of a Mexican immigrant with a Puertorican who has arrived in N.Y. for a better job. Both
might look alike with dark olive skin and speak the Spanish language but their background a
very diverse. As a state it earlier schools must educate all students to recognize the culture
diversity that exist in the Hispanic Latino population.
One way that diversity and cultural appreciation can be taught in the classroom is to first
make culture recognition among the many immigrant cultures and subcultures a part of the
course curriculum. Legislation must be passed mandating that culture diversity be taught in the
classroom. Without this legislation is doubtful the school system in America will teach cultural
diversity. Schools can employ several techniques and applications to teach multicultural
diversity. The book Strategies and Lesson for Culturally Responsive Teaching: a primer for K –
12 teachers offers many good techniques and strategies for the classroom. For example, Chapter
4 lesson 5 discusses what games teach us about diversity. In the Hispanic culture dominoes are a
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principal source of entertainment. Also soccer is the number one sport both in the Hispanic
community and in a global scale. It is interesting to know that American citizens do not really
understand the game of soccer. Chapter 4 lesson 4 offers a technique “to help students recognize
differences and being responsible for one another by letting them have the experience of walking
in the shoes of those who may differ from them in some way” (2010, p.97). Students need
strong engaging activities to understand the different cultural backgrounds of the America
population including the immigrants from Mexico.