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Samantha Vasquez

Mrs.Kacvinsky

American Dream Project

March 30, 2017

Guatemalan Refugees and the American Dream

Immigration is one of the most controversial subjects in the United States. But what

everyone really wants to know is: What should America do with immigrants that are living

illegally in the Unites States? Some people ignorantly argue that all immigrants should be sent

back, regardless of their immigration status. Should people who are escaping war, danger, and

death be sent back as well? Should America, the land of the free, turn its back and ignore people

who are in need, even if they arent American? There are many reasons for people to immigrate

to the U.S., but what if these immigrants are refugees?

Guatemala has one of the highest homicides rates in the western hemisphere, it is

reported that there is an average of 96 murders per week. Guatemalan refugees immigrate to

wherever they can to escape danger and stay alive. If a Guatemalan refugee enters the United

States illegally because they were fleeing danger and came for stability and hope of achieving

the American Dream, they should be allowed to stay. Many Guatemalans come to the United

States to escape danger and to live freely without oppression. Whether it be land ownership,

business ownership, education, or inheritance; Guatemalan refugees come to America to climb

the ladder of success so that they can get a second chance of achieving power and stability,
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something they werent able to do in Guatemala because of all the persecution and danger. Our

own founding fathers, were immigrants from Britain. They were colonists who came and settled

on land that did not belong to them. They werent escaping danger, just expanding their

territories for religious freedom. Eventually as time passed by, they evolved. Becoming more

American than British. They then rebelled against Britain, forming what now is The United

States of America. But why should former immigrants decide whether other immigrants should

be allowed to stay in a country that they didnt come from as well? Just as British colonists had

the right to immigrate and live in America without being harassed, threatened or being sent back

to England, Guatemalan refugees should definitely be allowed to stay in the United States and

have the right to achieve the American Dream.

Escaping the Faces of Danger

My grandmother was a Guatemalan refugee. She crossed the border in fear that her

children would be killed if she didnt escape. My grandmother said her children wouldnt be

who they are now if [she] hadnt come here. The poverty and homicide rates made Guatemala

was a very hard place for my grandmother to live, due to all the violence that is still going on

Similarly, many other Guatemalans come to America for those exact reasons, to escape danger.

Dictators, gangs, thieves, narco-trafficking, rape, murder, war, and police related violence are the

reasons that Guatemalan citizens flee to America. Even the powerful who dont struggle

financially, arent safe. Its only a matter of time before gangsters start knocking on their doors

for the weekly fee, and once they arent able to pay it, then there is nothing they can do to stop
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future events from happening. Danger comes knocking and everywhere people turn there is a

path that leads to even more danger.

Children notice things that adults dont believe they see. In reality, they are more aware

than people think. Children growing up in an environment where they see death in their

homeland, it traumatizes them. As Dr. Suhayl Jamil Farha, who experienced this first hand, says

in his book IMMIGRATION and the American Dream, There were dead soldiers and dead

mules strewn every which way, some of them half-buried in the dirt. To this day, I still picture

feet sticking up from the ground (Farha 11). There are always two different sides to a story and

how people arrive to the United States. The other side of this escape route, parents sacrifice their

lives for their children and at times have the children come to the United States unaccompanied.

Some parents believe that its too late to succeed and achieve some sort of goal, which is

why they push their children into accomplishing what they couldnt or in some cases do more

than what they did. 2016 marked the highest year that unaccompanied children arrived to the

United States, 59,170 children to be exact. The top country of origin for Unaccompanied Alien

children is Guatemala, leading with 40% (CNN). These children have probably suffered greatly

and the best thing their parents can do for them is send them to the land of opportunities. But in

other cases, like Gaspar Marcos, they had nowhere else to go. Gaspar Marcos is an orphan who

crossed the border on his own at the age of 13. He had nothing left for him in Guatemala,

therefore took a chance at becoming someone and came to America to achieve Education. It was

either stay in Guatemala inspite of what was going on, or risk coming to America for the better

(LA Times). These scenarios resemble many other Guatemalan refugee stories and why they

decide to come to America. They come to flee danger.

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Refugees accomplished immigrating to the United States, but now they need to work hard

to achieve some form of power. As Timothy Howard mentioned in How to Make It In America:

A Guide to Achieving the American Dream After Immigration to America, due to all the

prejudice and persecution that immigrants face, they not only have to make it in America but

also deal with people who publicly humiliate, despise, and offend them because they werent

born on American soil. Because of cultural challenges, immigrants must often work harder than

other Americans (Howard 11). But if only all these stubborn people knew that, Its the people

who are ambitious, immigrant or otherwise, who are capable of making the biggest changes in

the world (Howard 1). Just because a Guatemalan is a little darker, a little shorter, and speaks a

different language doesnt mean they arent capable of achieving the stability and power than an

American can. It may take longer but they sure are capable of doing it. Two of my aunts who

came to America climbed the ladder of success. Barely knowing any English, managed to work

hard and save money so one day they would be their own bosses. They now own their own

building material corp warehouses, are their own bosses, and managed to achieve the American

dream. Even though it took a while, they achieved what they never knew they could.

Maybe Guatemalan refugees dont fully escape the faces of evil when they come to

America, but they can achieve the American dream. If my grandmother hadnt fled from danger

and started a new life in America, who knows? Maybe I wouldnt have been born. My

grandmother led all future generations to a land full of opportunities, and I will forever be

grateful for her bravery and courage.

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Land of Opportunities

My grandmother was the first in our family to come to America. She got a job as a

housekeeper in a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. All the money she gained was

either sent back to Guatemala for her children, or saved to create a stable environment to bring

her children from Guatemala. Theoretically the man is supposed to provide for the family, but in

my grandmother's case, she became the provider for her family. This mirrors other Guatemalan

refugee stories. Just as Dr.Farha was sent to America by his father who let down his partners and

lost their share in land for a better cause. He sacrificed his land for his children and risked losing

everything, so his boys could receive the education that they deserved by sending them to the

best schools in Lebanon and America. He saved money and payed for Dr.Farha and his brother

to be in the best institutes in Lebanon and financially supported them when they came to school

in America, but my father paved the way for my brother and I to improve our and our families

lived forever, through gaining a good education (Farha 13). His fathers sacrifice was soon

going to pay off, he would then become a general surgeon, who ended up opening a practice

along side his brother.

My grandmother sent for my mom to be brought to the United States as soon as she

could. She didnt want my mom to grow up in a country where women, specifically are being

targeted and killed. Guatemala has the third highest femicide rate in the world, 9.1 murders for

every 100,000 women (BBC News). In order to achieve stability people must take risks. Coming

to America even if there is a chance you will be sent back. If Guatemalan refugees come to

America for stability they should be allowed to stay, because all they really want is to better the

lives of their families, their children. Parents do everything in their power to make sure they can
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give their children the best. If parents send their children to America, or come to create a stable

environment for them (because it's dangerous in their home country), they should be allowed to

stay here. They come here for safety, instead they deal with harassment and fear. Even if

Guatemalan Refugees arent able to achieve the American dream, the start the path for their

children to achieve it.

Guatemalan refugees come to America, hoping that opportunities will open up for them,

and allow them to be one step closer to achieving the American dream. Once opportunities come,

immigrants believe that the big guy up in the sky was listening and helped them out. My

grandmother was given the opportunity to become a supervisor at the hotel she worked at. She

became close with the owners of the hotel, Mr.Lynn and Mrs.Barbara, a middle aged white

couple who were humble as can be. They purchased the hotel and my grandma was hired. They

gave her, her own apartment at the hotel. She shared her story of escaping Guatemala and how

she was ultimately trying to bring her family here. As soon as the supervisor position opened,

three months after they hired her, they quickly considered her for the position. She earned more

money and was able to save to bring her family to America. This couple helped my grandmother

bring my grandfather along with my two uncles and my mom to America. Most importantly,

Mr.Lynn and Mrs.Barbara gave my grandmother papers to become a U.S. citizen. Just by having

one conversation with the owners gave her the opportunity of the life time, she was given a

higher position and given papers. She had now achieved financial stability, she later went on to

purchasing a home and achieving part of the American Dream, ownership. This is just one

example that can resemble many other Guatemalan Refugees.

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Opportunities can come in the smallest ways, perhaps an Idea. Richard Montaez, a

janitor at the Frito-Lay Rancho, came up with an idea that would make him a legend. To think

that it all started with Montaez eating a cup of corn (containing corn, cheese, butter and chile),

that made him wonder what would happen if he added chile to a cheeto. Motanez presented his

idea to the president of the company and Flaming Hot line was born, including Flamin Hot

Cheetos, Frito-Lays top selling product. Montaez motivates others into helping and giving

back to younger generations, Latinos who have made it like myself have a responsibility to

open doors to younger generations and teach them that they can do it. (FOX News Latino). Its

people like Montaez who encourage immigrants that they are capable of achieving the

American dream. Even if people think an idea is ridiculous, it could be the next million dollar

idea.

In America, doors are constantly opening and closing. But if people have an idea, they

should stick with it. Even if the idea may be a small contribution or looks unimportant, with hard

work and the right attitude, anything can be achieved (Howard). If it werent for my grandmother

receiving a higher position, she probably wouldnt have made as much money and brought her

family to America as quickly. If it werent for her dedication, her future generations wouldnt be

where they are now. If my aunts had given up on achieving the American dream, they wouldnt

be business owners. If it werent for the opportunities in America my family wouldnt have been

able to achieve anything. I probably would start one step below where I am now regarding

someday achieving the American Dream.

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Different points of View

Certain people, including Donald Trump, claim that immigrants take away jobs for

Americans. But that isnt the case, its something else much more serious. An immigrant who

came to America to escape the horrible living conditions will be grateful to come to America and

get a job, no matter what it is. Refugees are humble, they dont care what their job is, it beats

having to live in a country where there is no 100% chance that they will be alive at the end of the

day. These refugees can be seen anywhere: picking fruit in the fields, selling ice cream on the

street, food stands in the streets, working in factories, cleaning dishes in restaurants, maid work,

janitorial work. They work low income jobs and at times work two or three jobs just to make

enough money to send back to their family. Rarely is it heard that white Americans work jobs

that immigrants do. They are too embarrassed, too good to be working those jobs. Its not that

immigrants are taking away their jobs, they just dont want those type of jobs. Guatemalan

Refugees such as Garpar Marcos have to work these type of jobs.

Gaspar Marcos works night shifts and doesnt arrive home until two or three in the

morning, only to wake up in a couple of hours to go to school (LA Times). Richard Montaez,

the man behind the brilliant idea of hot cheetos, wasnt always making million dollar ideas. He

started by working as a janitor for the Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamonga plant in California (FOX

News Latino). But one thing is certain, there is always two sides of story. Ignorant people want

to send immigrants back, but theyre only a fraction of a whole group. In reality only 74% of

Americans said that undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country, 24%

percent believe the opposite. Americans, including Republicans, feel wrong for expelling

millions of their neighbors from the country (The Washington post). Mr.Trumps plan for
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deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants is ridiculous. Not only is America in debt, but

president Trump wants to spend more money on deporting refugees who are afraid to return to

their homeland. But what if there was some sort of compromise that allowed immigrants to live

in America without threat of deportation?

America should offer immigrants citizenship, providing that they meet certain

requirements. If not, they should work out a compromise that allows immigrants to live in

America and work without being molested, even if they dont receive citizenship. By allowing

them to stay, immigrants get the chance to achieve the American dream and make a path that

their future generations can follow. If my grandma had been sent back, there probably wouldnt

be any future generations. Her children wouldnt have accomplished anything in Guatemala.

They probably would have been murdered. It would have been a dead end, there wouldnt be any

steps to follow.

Conclusion

A Guatemalan refugee can only obtain success by being in America. My aunts, who are

now successful business owners, wouldnt have been able to accomplish the American Dream

without being in America. My grandma wouldnt have achieved land ownership if it werent

coming to America. My mom wouldnt have received inheritance and education if she wasnt

brought to America. I wouldnt be who I am now if my Guatemalan grandma, who was a

refugee, didnt come to America and achieve the American Dream. If she hadnt come and set up

the ladder of success, I wouldnt have gotten the chance to receive an American education and

the chance to attend a university and become somebody in the world. Many Guatemalan refugees
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came and set up the ladder for their families, so their generations can have the opportunity to be

one step higher.

Guatemalan refugees should be allowed to stay in the United States, they arent being

selfish. They just want the opportunity. They arent stealing jobs. They are people who have

been through hell and back and escaped it. Even if they are picking food in fields, selling shaved

ice on the streets, or cleaning homes, they prefer it to living in danger in a place where there

arent any basic necessities for life. A compromise should be made to allow refugee immigrants

to remain in America, even if they have to meet certain requirements and dont receive papers.

Refugees have lived through enough and shouldnt have to be molested or threatened while

being in America. As a well known philosopher, Hannah Arendt, said [The refugees] were

welcomed nowhere and could be assimilated nowhere. Once they had left their homeland they

remained homeless, once they had left their state they remained stateless; once they had been

deprived of their human rights they were rightless, the scum of the earth, refugees dont have

anything to lose; the moment they leave their homeland they put everything on the line, all for

the opportunity to achieve something. Guatemalan refugees are just one example of the kinds of

refugees that should be admitted into the United States. All refugees should be allowed to come

to the United States, they all deserve the chance to receive a second chance. Refugees should be

given the opportunity to achieve the American dream by being admitted to America.
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Work Cited

Board, Editorial. "What Americans Think Should Be Done on Illegal Immigration." Blog post.
The Washington Post. WP Company, 11 Oct. 2015.

Carcamo, Cindy. "Immigrant Teen Gaspar Marcos Got Thousands of Dollars in Donations, but
He Still Takes the Bus." Blog post. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug.
2016.

Farha, Dr.Suhayl Jamil. IMMIGRATION and the American Dream. N.p.: Scottsdale Multimedia,
2016. Print

Howard, Timothy. How to Make It In America: A Guide to Achieving the American

Dream After Immigration to America. San Bernardino: Main LLC, 2016. Print.

Library, CNN. "Immigration Statistics Fast Facts." Blog post. CNN. Cable News Network, 26
Jan. 2017.

Luviano, Tania. "Our American Dream: The Janitor Who Invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos." Blog
post. Fox News. FOX News Network, 26 Mar. 2012

Piette, Candace. "Where Women Are Killed by Their Own Families." Blog post. BBC News.
BBC, 05 Dec. 2015.