Analysis Of Sonia Nazario´s Enrique's Journey

Part I. Introduction (approximately ½- ¾ page)
Did you know that over 200 million people illegally leave their country in search of a new one? Immigrants from all around the world travel to the United States for a better life for themselves and their family. However, making a living in the U. S is not that easy. Majority of illegal immigrants travel by train or smugglers, such as Enrique, from Sonia Nazario’s Enrique’s Journey. Life for immigrants living in the United States and those trying to leave their homeland is like a game of chess. In Nazario's, she describes the utter dehumanization that immigrants face. In her work, she endeavors to humanize significant characters through her writing style. Nazario also points out the perpetual

dehumanizing circumstances that all illegal immigrants encounter. On the journey from Honduras to the United States border, transients face countless of threats, from physical danger to psychological harm. Some of the challenges they face include robbers, starvation, deportation as well as racism.
Section II. Nazario’s Argument (approximately 1 ½-2 pages)
Nazario introduces the opening of Enrique's Journey by addressing the highly debated topic regarding illegal immigration in the United States thus allowing for a very descriptive understanding of the troubles that immigrants face. In the opening prologue, Nazario describes the discussion that she had with her housekeeper Carmen when she discovered that Carmen had left behind her children before coming to the United States in search of a better life. This drives Nazario’s fascination with immigrant mothers in similar circumstances. These single mothers are forced to withdraw from their families and struggle solely for work in an unfamiliar country. In the novel, Nazario reports the conflicting views on immigration illustrating the increase of illegal immigrants and single mothers coming to the United States to find employment opportunities in order to send money back their families at home. Enrique’s Journey further explains these complications of immigration and shows both the negative and positive aspects that come with immigration. As stated in a ted talk, “The main change for me has been to recognize that such a powerful stream will only change if it is addressed at its source, if the economies of these countries that are sending large numbers of people to the United States improves ( Nazario: Solving Illegal Immigration [For Real] ).” This quote describes the reason why many children especially immigrant mothers are leaving their country to go to the United States. Poor countries suffer from major economic problems. Many families cannot obtain their basic necessities such as clothes, food, and shelter. Thus causing these mother’s and children to seek a better life for themselves and their families. Nazario believes that the source of immigration is a result of poor economics as well as dangerous environments. Likewise, these environments are further mentioned,
“ He knows where he might well be: scavenging in the trash dump across town.

The trash squishes beneath their feet, moistened by loads from hospitals, full of blood and placentas. Occasionally, a child, with hands blackened by garbage, picks up a piece of bread and eats it. As the youngsters sort through the stinking stew, thousands of sleek, black buzzards soar in a dark, swirling cloud and defecate on the people below (Nazario 26).” This quote illustrates the heartbreaking moments where children dig through tons of trash. These people search through piles of garbage to find any source of food they could get their hands on. In most cases, the leftover food that these people are eating is very unsanitary and unhealthy. Nazario presents her argument on illegal immigrant children by introducing a very flawed economic system. She believes the only way to truly stop illegal immigration is to improve the economy of poor areas such as the one where Enrique once

lived.

Section III. Research and Analysis (approximately 1 ½ - 2 pages)
As expressed by Sonia Nazario, she believes that immigration can be fixed if the economy improves. However, the process to improve economic conditions is a very
slow and time-consuming process that can take years.

Unlike Nazario's claim, the only true way to halt illegal immigration is to improve the border security and increase the number of armed forces on the border. In exact words, " So people have to decide. Do they want to have the security? Do they want to continue to plug the gap [ in border security ] that GAO has identified and recognize that there will be some costs to doing that? Or do we want to make sure that business isn't hampered and that people can move back and forth readily, and recognize that, if we don't put some barriers in place, we're going to wind up with dangerous people coming into the country? (Michael Chertoff)." The information describes Michael Chertoff's concerns after 9/11. Chertoff questions if America is safe. As suggested by Chertoff, he worries that the major lack of border security is a major contributor to the number of criminals present in the United States. In contrast to his concern not all but many illegal immigrants have brought major crime to the United States. As described, “ In the last year alone, illegal immigrants were responsible for 18 percent of drug trafficking; 30 percent of kidnapping and hostage taking; 75 percent of drug possession; 10 percent of money laundering; 21 percent of national defense; and 5 percent of murder sentences (Hannity).” This quote was said by Sean Hannity on Tuesday, August 23rd in a slide presented on Hannity’s show during an interview with Donald

Trump. As demonstrated the number of crimes has increased drastically due to the lack of border security, therefore, stressing the importance and need for more security. There needs to be a major increase in the recruitment of armed soldiers along the border. According to one source, " If the United States was to militarize the border, the smugglers would have a harder time getting past all of the helicopters and well-armed and well-trained troops as well as helping illegal immigration (Brianna Lee)." The benefits of recruiting more armed forces on the border are presented in this quote. One benefits that are to come is the decrease in the number of crimes. There would be fewer murders, drug trafficking, drug possession, kidnappings, money laundering, stealing, and murder. Another benefit is the improvement in the economy in the United States. There would be fewer chances of overcrowding in workplaces, public places, apartments, complexes, and houses. This information contradicts Sonia Nazario's argument by the drastically different ways that illegal immigration could be solved.
Section IV. Conclusion (approximately ½- ¾ page)
Sonia Nazario Is a well-known Journalist. In Enrique’s Journey, She formulates the narrative of a boy named Enrique in his quest to find his mother. Using his story to articulate her political opinion on the debated subject on the illegal immigration issue. In her novel, she repeatedly uses the three linguistic appeals: ethos, and logos, and pathos. Enrique’s adventure is a truly eventful and heart-wrenching tale. Many immigrants face truly terrifying obstacles such as bandits, beatings, rapes, corrupted police, and starvation. Based on the research conducted and Nazario's argument both are flawed. The prevention of illegal immigration shouldn't be prevented at all. Illegal immigrants should have every right to come to the United States if they choose to. These illegal immigrants come to this state with the hope to have a better life than their homeland. And the government has no right to stop them from achieving a better life. Their original countries where they were born are filled with crimes and poverty. Therefore, no one can blame them illegally leaving their country.