Mexicans come to the U.S. for many different reasons and in many different ways. Most of them come because they are looking for a better life. They know that they can make enough money to send back to their families. There is a big gap between the rich and poor in Mexico, and many people are willing to give up their homes in order to support their loved ones. Others come for educational opportunities. They want their children to be able to go farther than they were able to. Some Mexicans come by bus. They spend several hours on a bus which will take them to Texas or Los Angeles. Others come by plane and travel directly to New York. It is pretty expensive for the average Mexican family to come to the U.S., and they must save money for several years to prepare for the journey. Some Mexicans do come to the U.S. without visas, but that is because they are desperate to provide for their families.
We left so many things in Mexico: our dogs, our homes, and our bikes. We left relatives like our aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Some of us even left our mothers and sisters, and we haven’t been able to see them since we came here. We have baby nephews and nieces that we’ve never met. We can call them in Mexico, usually once or twice a week, but it’s not the same as seeing them in person.
We found family members here. Most of us have fathers who had lived here for many years before we came. They sent money back, applied for visas, and waited to be able to bring us here. We found a really big school and a totally new language. Even though some of us had studied English before, it was an entirely different situation to be immersed in an environment where we heard nothing but English all day.
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A one-way flight from Mexico City to NYC costs between $270 and $370.
The average per capita income in Mexico is $10,700.