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http://www.yosoypuebla.com/2013/01/10-cosas-centro-puebla/


NAME: Jennifer Valbuena Casalini
IMMIGRATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO UNITED STATE, A SOCIAL REALITY IN MEXICO
Nowadays in a world where the opportunities are scarcer than before for the poor people, the
option in some countries with high rate of inequality and poverty such as Mexico is looking for a
new territory where they can find a real chance to achieve better living conditions for them and
their families in country of origin. In the case of indigenous, the economic and social aspects have
important roles in the decision that they are taking, with respect to the first, over the years this
population had been working in the agriculture, livestock, fishing and even crafts sector, namely,
some industries with a low income with insufficient resources for health services or pension for
them. About the second aspect, the high discrimination is maybe the most important problem
between the Mexican society and indigenous people (even they do not want to receive the
adjective of Mexican when they live in USA, because they cannot feel the connection with that
citizens), some examples of this one are the way how some Mexicans tease them for their
languages, custom, even their perspective or thinking about the life, even some actions are so
cruel (such as jokes, insults or bullying practices) that the parents do not want to teach their
language to their children, another abuses are related with the violation of human rights , in this
part , one particular situation took place in Baja California with the indigenous group known as
Kiliwa (they receive many mistreatments by the authority of the state) , which decided that their
women stop having more children.
Historically, the immigration of indigenous people began around the forties with the
industrialization of the biggest cities in the state, where the welfare seemed to grow with the
entrepreneurial development in comparison with the rural zones whose situation was more and
more precarious for population of these places, under this situation people with an Indigenous
heritage decide to move out of these region (For example Oaxaca or Michoacn), because they
could not find the enough economic benefits in the work that they had been doing for decades .
With the passage of the time, the migration took a new direction and the attention was focused in
the North Territories and especially in United State of America; a reason very important for this
phenomenon was Mexican Farm Program or common known as Programa Braceros, which
was a diplomatic treatment between Mexico and United State governments that include a long-
term movement of Mexican to USA, where they had to work with the agriculture industry of that
country. This situation was like a first step to consider the benefit to live in another country;
however the labour exploitation and discrimination were significant negative points in this
apparent opportunity.
In the beginning, the Illegal immigrants of indigenous population (result of the strong policies in
USA) were mostly adult males, namely, men with an active economic position, especially inside of
a family, where the woman had a role of housewife and mother of the little children, for theses
year, men had to travel alone. However, the circumstances were changing and the movement of
young people such as brothers, uncles or cousin even women with (or without) babies or children
were very common. With respect to women, the movement of this special group were the cause
of important social changes, the most important was about family structure, before of the
immigration of woman, the indigenous families were formed by parents and children, the way
than the women were active participants in the relatives relationships; after of this phenomenon,
the structure had a new model, where the woman leaves their little children and tries to find
different options in another country, this ideas about progress brought as result , in some cases,
parentless children ( living with grandparents or an uncle, etc.) or children with single parents; this
is normal if we consider the importance of the women in the concept of family unity. Other
important social changes in relation with immigration were the decline of the birth rate in some
region of Mexico with a high indigenous population, the adoption of foreign habits such as alcohol,
the cigarette and drugs consumption, bad eating habits or even that they do not want to learn the
indigenous languages because they prefer to speak English (taking account the freedoms and
respect for these ones in the country) , under these conditions the original traditions and customs
are forgotten, especially for the youngest people.
In relation with the United State, the major populations of indigenous people are concentrated
principally in the following states: California, Arizona and Texas, with other destinations less
important such as Nevada, Illinois, Florida, Nevada and New York. Available works for this
population tend to use the brute-force in the case of men and respect to the women consists
basically in the household works, where they do not have access to the same benefits of American
workers. This last point, it is because these people do not have the enough knowledge over their
rights and laws in favor of them , other factors very relevant are that they do not speak the
language (this is an obstacle if they want to find another job) or that they do not have an
appropriate educational level (maybe, it is the main reason why they cannot have an access to
good jobs with high wages or better labour and working conditions) , for examples a high rate of
indigenous people are Illiterates, therefore they do not speak or write in Spanish and this situation
aggravates with the English language. However, the discrimination between Mexican (people
without indigenous heritage) and indigenous people do not exist in United State or this is very
unusual, so that these people receive the same treatment, opportunities and even abuses for part
of American enterprises and companies. Nevertheless, it is relevant to know that this vulnerable
group has an impressive political force in United States, where they try to improve the condition
of these immigrants in the social, political and economy environment, this is very important
because these activities can give them a better future for their families in the country or outside of
it.
In conclusion, the Mexican Government should revalue its social policies with respect to the
indigenous people, because the reality if that these groups need to receive support of their
authorities with program of Health services, Education and even more important awareness
programs about the cultural importance of these individuals. With the correct policies, it is
possible to improve the living conditions of indigenous people.