Forbidden Access

Beginning

Causes

Europe Asia Mexico

Political Social Economic

Immigration Economic Effect U.S. Labor Work Force

U.S. Immigration Policy Consequences if Found as Illegal Immigrant

Refugees In General Terminology Names of Pro-Immigration Organizations Organizations for Anti-Immgiration

American Border Patrol CBP Protection The Government's Role

llegal Immigration Solution

Mexico

Asia

Living in Fear The Denisal of Aid Once Gone, Better be Gone The Family Generation of Immigration Fake Identity

Honor Bound Leaving Everything Behind Drifting to a Pricey New Place The Terrifying Experience A New Place of Life

Mexico

Fake Identity

Living under a fake name and identity, Leonardo Herrera lives the life of a solitary man. He has no one from his family in the US with him and his only contact with his family is only through rare videos and brief phone conversations once per week.

Leonardo Herrera is one of the many Mexicans who came to the US to work as an undocumented field worker. He came to the US by human smuggling and left his entire family in the Mexico. Since Herrera is using a fake social security number, he has to be careful of how he uses it. For his current employer, Herrera is required to pay taxes like any other worker and he is paid by check. The only things that Herrera isn’t eligible for is unemployment payments, welfare, or any other kinds of benefits unless he “fraudulently” applies for it (Mapes).

He works long hours everyday and gets paid the minimum wage required by Washington State in Yakima County. His wage alone equals to the cost of living in Mexico. In Mexico, his family only has to pay seven dollars for electricity, nine dollars for water and fourteen dollars for using propane for cooking (Mapes). Also, Herrera’s family was able to build their house for only the cost of 20,000 dollars and they are living a comfortable life without any hardships such as poverty.

Since Herrera’s family is living in good conditions, Herrera sees this as a good opportunity to keep working in the US and to continue on with the steady supply of income to his family. Many immigrants who came to US often bring over their whole family, but in Herrera’s case, he doesn’t want his children to grow up in the US for fear that they would lose respect for their parents and country. Even though Herrera is using a fake identity, he is doing this for a good reason for getting a job, and having the ability to support his family without delay.

______________________________________________________________

Source:

Mapes, Lynda. "I need the work, they need the work done."Seattletimes. 23 Jul 2006.
<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/mexico/stories/mex1a.html>.