Enrique’s Journey chronicles the lives of a little kid from Central America who is trying to find his mother after she abandoned him when he was five years old, so she could work in the United States. The goal of Nazario’s description of Enrique’s life is to humanize and make more widely known the social and general situations and causes that influence immigration from Central America due to weather in the early 21st century. Enrique’s Journey is non-fiction, although it relies on immigration-related concerns by beginning with the true account of one boy’s travels. In order to create a multifaceted narrative, the work combines journalistic, non-fiction writing with a wide range of popular styles. In the story, the topic of immigration and borders is raised, and it is demonstrated how it divides families. The book essentially uncovers and demonstrates how these problems affect Central American immigrants, who are largely ignored by Americans. The author, at the same time, attempts to humanize the people who endure these stories by making them public.
For instance, Enrique’s mother, who is left to care for her children alone, is adamant about her plan to move to the US in her quest of employment. Additionally, persistence goes beyond simply entering the US. She needs to be persistent in order to work, send money home, and “keep in touch with her family despite great distances” (Nazario, 2007, p. 16). Immigrant single mothers from all around the world can identify with her problems. At the same time, the children’s skepticism regarding his mother’s affection demonstrates the degree of the family’s breakdown. Essentially, Carmen’s decision to immigrate to the US was driven by her strong love for her children and her desire to provide them with a better life. However, her departure was interpreted by her kids as abandonment rather than a sacrifice she made for them.
These developments show how complicated immigration has become and how it affects family life. Additionally, they demonstrate how the gender dynamics of immigrants from Central and Latin America are evolving. This explanation of the mechanisms influencing immigration shifts also demonstrates how previous waves of immigration have resulted in people being considered as insignificant statistics. Nazario is interested in humanizing these individuals’ tales as a journalist because they have been reduced to statistical statistics or ideological tenets in political discussions. Even this brief examination of the struggles immigrants faced in order to immigrate to the United States is striking. In the United States, there is no discussion of immigration that takes into account their persistence, yearning for a better life, despair, or need for family reunification.
In the book, Nazario goes above and beyond just listening to and interviewing people because she wants to record the tale of Enrique and other such immigrants. She feels the urge to travel herself in order to not only hear about what Enrique went through, but also to experience it firsthand. Despite that, she became aware that her experience is “only an iota of what migrant children go through” (Nazario, 2007, p. 214). This refers to Nazario’s realization that genuine compassion and understanding involve being open to the same experiences and placing oneself in the other person’s position.
The difficulties that immigrants encounter only worsen as more information comes to light. And Nazario is dealing with all of these challenges as fully as he is able to. She understands, however, that she will never be a physically or psychologically actual immigrants. Illegal immigrants are frequently depicted and regarded as criminals in the US. Nazario expresses genuine admiration for these immigrants, which puts this line of reasoning on its head. She emphasizes that these are merely individuals seeking a better life, just like everyone else – “we are human and should treat people in a humane way” (Nazario, 2007, p. 302). Moreover, drawing attention to the human cost of this immigration serves as a prelude to her later discussion on how to reduce the need for this particular type of immigration.
Sonia Nazario speaks on the difficult reality of immigration throughout Enrique’s Journey. Her own perspective shares many similarities with Enrique’s. She contends that the long-term benefits of a mother and kid being separated are not what Lourdes and Enrique experienced. Long-lasting emotional harm and misconceptions are caused by resentment, rage, and frustration. Through interviews and explanations, Nazario also examines the various political, social, economic, and personal problems surrounding immigration as Enrique travels. But in the end, it seems that these numerous issues are less severe than the issue of the breakdown of the family.
Nazario’s journalism is successful because it is impartial. She makes an effort to consider all potential outcomes and aims to highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each option. This is a remarkably humanizing perspective on the immigration issue. Nazario is looking at the causes of this rise in population, as well as the possible consequences of how the demographics of America are changing. When attempting to comprehend a problem that is so intricate and multifaceted, her weighted viewpoint is useful.
Reference
Nazario, S. (2007). Enrique’s journey: The story of a boy’s dangerous odyssey to reunite with his mother. Random House Trade Paperbacks.