Artifact Two: A Refugee Crisis?

Credit

While the photos may tell a different story, Honduras is not a tropical tourist destination for Americans to spend their vacation time on; instead, it is a land where drug cartels are king and violence runs amok. Christian Omar Reyes, a young Honduran boy, knows this very well; two months ago his father was brutally murdered by members of a local gang. His mother quickly fled Honduras on life insurance money, promising to send for him soon. But in Reyes own words, he has to get out now, "no matter what". 

Central America wasn't always this bad. However, in recent years it has gotten much worse, causing the number of children immigrating to the United States to skyrocket. Part of this is due to the efforts of the United States and Colombia to stop the drug traffic flowing through the Carribbean islands. In order to get their drugs to the States now, the cartels have been forced to reroute the drugs through Honduras and other Central American countries. Currently, the amount of drug money flowing through Honduras is currently larger than the country's GDP. 

Upon interviewing children who had fled parts of Central America, the UN found that 58% of them had left due to violence, not economic hardship, like most of us think. This survey caused the UN to recommend that these children be allowed to enter the United States on refugee status. So far, the United States appears to be ignoring this recommendation (EDIT: upon reading more into it, the US is now apparently seriously considering giving Honduras refugee status). 

I agreed with the author up until the point where she stated that she believed those fleeing economic hardship should not be allowed into this country. From my perspective, economic hardship can be almost just as bad as physical hardship. I feel that it is unfair for only those facing a certain type of issue should be allowed into the Land of Opportunity where they can make their lives better while others are forced to suffer. Yes, life is not always fair, but as a wealthy country with plentiful resources, we should try our best to give everyone the chance to succeed. 

In The Distance Between Us, Grande, the author of the novel, was never raped or forced to sell drugs, but nevertheless, she still desperately needed to get out of Mexico. In Mexico, she would never be properly educated, never get the chance to go to college and better herself, never live the life she dreamed; however, all that was possible in the States. She worked hard and it got her places; this the dream of so many children in so many countries, and we just simply ignore them. 

I very well could've been one those children; had I not been born to the right parents. Instead, I was born into a life of privilege and security, a life where whatever I can dream is possible. This is life I want for everyone. This is the dream that should go on, for all children, not just refugees. 

For those interesting in reading the article, here it is: A Refugee Crisis, Not an Immigration Crisis