Mexican Immigrant

The remarkable story of Jose Antonio Martinez (the “whiz kid” who became an excellent student after migrating from Mexico as an impoverished laborer at the age of 15), featured in Tina Griego’s “Following a Dream” (June 21), reflects not only the misadventures of many young Mexicans who leave our country in search for a better life, but also some of the misperceptions about this phenomenon. I hope that your readers will not conclude from this report that those who decide to stay in Mexico “will be nothing more than slaves” during the rest of their lives, “working long hours for little pay, with a hungry wife and children to support.”

It is true that many people in Mexico live in conditions of extreme poverty. But many Mexicans are able to work and raise their families with dignity and respect for their country. As many studies have shown, in general Mexican migrants do not leave their native land because they are starving or have no other choice, but rather because they want to improve their standard of living. Creative and ambitious people (like Jose Antonio), are the first ones to migrate. Perhaps if we had the necessary resources to keep them in Mexico, we would be able to improve the situation of the least favored ones.

ALBERTO DIAZ, Press Attache

Consulate General of Mexico

Los Angeles