In the article, "THE CHILDREN WILL KEEP COMMING" published in The Nation, author Oscar Martinez describes how there is violence spreading through central America causing women and children to flee their countries. In addition he talks about how there are to many immigrants coming across the Mexico border into the U.S. David, a eleven year old boy was killed to death by gang members walking home from school. Police believed it was because he refused to join their group. David is from Santaruz Michapa, a rural and very dangerous city in El Salvador. Migrants flee this country to the U.S to avoid entering into gangs. "The Obama administration initially sought to change the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act to allow the 52,000 or so child migrants who have arrived on U.S soil in the last line months to be deported without going before an immagration judge." durring 2008, In El Salvador fifty-two people for every 100,000 were killed, It has now decreased to fourty people for every 100,000. Gang violence in El Salvador is around fourty percent, and it accounts for twenty-seven percent of the overall crime rates. The schools in El Salvador have a very high drop out rate due to the gang members in El Salvador. Many kids are scared for their lives. They flee the country with nothing. Even if they make it to America some end up joing gangs in southern California just to survuve. For many Central Ameicans it is very hard to become a legal citizen in the United Staes. The U.S has narrowed its deffinition of Assylum. Immigrants have to meet the requirments, having a certain religion not being part of certain groups and so on. Sandra a immigrant in America tried to have a cyote bring over her son for 4,500 dollars. The kid ended up captured by authorities. Cyotes in America are considerd criminals. The United States isn't thinking about changing the immigration law any time soon, they will continue to deport illegal immagrants back to their country.
Article
After I read this article I was truly amzed on how gangs have such an impact on immigrants. Immigrants are almost forced to leave because their life is threatened by certain gangs. It's amazing how many Migrants go to the U.S border to try and find a better life. If an immigrant made it to the U.S, I personally think it causes a domino effect on other immagrants because that person will tell his or her friends and thebn they will tell their friends. One thing that surprised me was ho young the children were when being forced to join gangs otherwise they would be killed. I just can't imagine living their. I am very blessed to be born in the United Sates. When will this violence stop in Central America? Will it ever stop in my lifetime? The governments need to do something, because there is seriously something wrong.
I also found it interesting how kids as young as 8 years old were being recruited into gangs. I couldn't imagine how hard it has to be to raise a child in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. I don't think I would allow my child to walk to school. I would probably take my child to school everyday. I don't think the violence will ever stop. Gangsters will continue to extort business and people. Gang members will continue to recruit children. I agree with you the violence must stop. I believe the children should at least have a chance at life. Gangsters don't allow a child to grow before recruitment. I wonder how the Mothers and Fathers feel about their children being forced to join a gang. I can't imagine being a resident of El Salvador either. What's so said is individuals that live in America take the luxuries we have for granted everyday.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteToday at 7:26 AM
I was amazed with how much gangs had an impact on so many kids as well. After reading this article it really opened my eyes to how big of a problem this really is for kids in other countries. I wonder if it is like that in the U.S? I know there are several gangs here but I wonder if it was ever, or is as bad as it is in other countries. I agree with you that the government needs to do something, but don't you think that people in their country need to do something? Them migrating here Is just avoiding the problem, they need to do something there so it stops all together. The problem wont go away if they keep running from it, although it is horrific there something needs to be done sooner than later. This made me open my eyes to how lucky we are here in the United States, I hope that one day this will come to an end. No child/ teenager deserves to grow up in an environment like this. Hopefully more read this article and come more aware of this issue because it will not go away if no one takes a stand and addresses it.