Just who are these Immigrants that work these menial jobs throughout the United States? I've always wanted to know the truth. How about you? Well actually, I'm posing that question as a naïve American would do. You know, that typical American that benefits from the "illegal's" labor, but that doesn't understand who they are.
The common theory or should I say falsehood is that they're all uneducated Mexicans that haven't completed their education beyond elementary school. The fact of the matter is that there are in fact some undocumented Immigrants that are educated up to an elementary school education. It's important to note that because of their shortcomings on education they aren't necessarily ignorant or uneducated. They may not be educated in the formal sense of the word, however many of these Immigrants are very astute and understand much of what goes on in politics and are able to engage you in intelligent conversation in their native language. It's definitely part of their survival mechanism. I would venture to say that most of those without formal education are far and few between and are usually the older Immigrants or the very young.
Today's undocumented Immigrant force actually consists of doctors, lawyers, engineers and many other professionals that have fled their native country either because of the economic situation or because of the prevalent violence which is a byproduct of the drug trade which has been created by a supply and demand environment primarily induced by the United States and its never ending need to feed its drug addicts that come in all shapes, sizes and forms. Which as we know includes the wide spectrum between street junkies to professionals. The United States is a bottomless pit of need for drugs, and Mexico and other Latin American countries are the never ending suppliers.
When these workers flee their country, they enter an underground system they have never really known, but have just heard about from friends and family. When they talk over the phone with Tio Chuy or Cousin Bertha, they are told that there are jobs here in the United States just waiting to be filled. They're told that although the trek across the desert may be somewhat perilous, it's all worth it once you're here. We're talking about individuals who have never worked jobs as laborers. Doctors whose businesses have failed or who are being extorted out of most of their small profits by Narco-trafficking gangs that require a payoff to do business in their neighborhood. It's pay or die. In many cases there is a warning. Perhaps in the form of smashed windows or visits to their home to see their family members. Our human nature is to react aggressively or abruptly when confronted with a do or die situation. That triggers decisions that we might not otherwise take.
After consulting with family members at home and after perhaps a couple of calls to friends or family in the U.S., the business professional decides to take that leap of faith and gathers what little money he has left to come to the United States to chase that American dream and to escape the poverty and violence of their native country.
Although they've heard from friends and family or community members that the trek across the desert is treacherous and unforgiving they feel like they're the ones in good enough shape to make that trek. They decide to roll the dice. Unbelievably as well learned as these professionals are, most fail to do their homework. They don't research what survival skills they may need in that treacherous vast Arizona desert with core temperatures reaching upwards of 160 degrees or that freezing Rumorosa mountain range between San Diego, California and Tijuana B.C. Mexico where the temperatures fall below zero.
As intelligent as they are, many of them with four to eight years of higher education under their belt, they leave unprepared on their journey to the promised land. Women wear open toe shoes and men wear designer boots. And although some may bring a few articles that might aid in their trek, often the Coyote (human trafficker) forbids them from bringing certain articles claiming it might slow them down and cause the entire group a problem.
Prior to crossing the actual border they are normally convened in a small village just before the border where they are read the riot act. The do's and don’ts of the journey they are about to begin. Most start the trip by night which poses their first challenge. They aren't equipped with the necessary tools for night survival and can't usually see more than a few feet ahead on those treacherous trails laced with sharp rocks, uneven surface, steep hills and snakes and poisonous insects. Many twist their ankles or cut themselves as they walk through the night, this of course quickly leads to further complications given the conditions and the lack of medical attention available.
They're told it'll only be a few hours of walking when in reality it could amount to days as they play a cat and mouse game with not just the Border Patrol, but the with the minutemen, militias and vigilante groups who make it a regular practice to conduct their Mexican hunts in the dead of night equipped with night vision goggles and armed to the teeth.
The predators have all the time in the world. It's a waiting game just like any other form of hunting. Yet the prey is on a tight schedule dictated by awaiting transportation at key points of the journey or mile markers that have to be reached within certain time frames in order to meet the demands of those calling the shots waiting for their merchandise of human flesh and modern slave labor to arrive in order to transport them to their ultimate destination which will allow the extortion of a final sum of money not factored in by the human cargo or their awaiting family members. There will inevitably be casualties along the way. Some will get injured or become so weak from stomach flu or fatigue that they'll be left behind to fend for themselves and wither away in the desert sun or the snow capped mountains of La Rumorosa. It's just the cost of doing business. Collateral damage, whether it's at the hands of border patrol or minutemen or just illness, it's all factored in to the financial equation. All the more reason to hold them captive in their underwear in drop houses demanding ransom prior to their release. The losses have to be covered at whatever cost.
If these professionals are lucky enough to survive the desert trek or the rigorous mountain trails, their family members or friends will pay the final fee to be joined with the human cargo and be reintegrated into some form of normalcy.
Battered, bruised, perhaps even victims of violent rape during their ordeal as part of the underground human trafficking industry, these men and women try desperately to wash the dirt off their broken bodies and cleanse their memory of that horrible experience.
Humiliated, abused and confused, they prepareto enter the U.S. workforce. They leave everyday to pound on doors at restaurants, constructions sites, landscaping companies, car washes etc.. You know the places that hire them. You see them there. You pretend as if they don't exist. To many of you, they are invisible. You don’t want to know where they came from. They lower their head when you look at them, afraid that their eyes will betray them. They feel like they're wearing a banner that says "illegal".
This is where many of you take for granted that the unassuming figure that you're looking at cleaning the interior of your car asking you what air freshener you would like is an uneducated low wage laborer. Well you're right about one thing, they are low waged laborers, but in many cases that worker holds a higher education than you do. You may be chatting with a doctor, a dentist and engineer, perhaps a former university professor who in his country bore the title doctor Jose Quiñonez and who in this country is known as "Jose" the guy who works at the car wash or buses tables at your favorite hangout.
If not for the language barrier you might have some extensive, in depth conversations with "Jose", about anything ranging from nutrition to international politics or perhaps his favorite American sports team. However, the language barrier is there and it acts very similar to the old Berlin wall. There's a mystery as to who is on the other side of that barrier on either direction, and it lends itself to assumptions, fear, and stereotyping.
In the end you'll go home and hang out with friends and family in your comfortable home, and as you throw back some Coronas you'll chuckle about how you tried to communicate with a poor idiot named "Jose" who seemed like a nice enough guy, but who clearly isn't very bright, given the fact that he couldn't speak your language. While "Jose" will be left cleaning your dirty table pondering whether you're one of those guys who supports anti-immigrant laws or if perhaps you're one of those weekend warriors that goes out diligently to the desert on Mexican hunts.
So the next time you look at that poor sod cleaning your table or your car or mowing your lawn, just remember he could very well be Dr. "Jose" and not just "Jose".
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on three radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a regular contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also a columnist on Prensa Hispana Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/www.carlosgalindo.com
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