Love: The Driving Force

Do you believe that immigrants enter America illegally just for the money? Or do

you believe there is something stronger that motivate these people to embark

on a life threatening journey? In the beginning of Enrique’s Journey, written by

Sonia Nazario, the readers quickly realize that Enrique and his sister, Belky, feel

unloved. Belky often thinks to herself, “How can I be worth anything if my mother

left me?” (Nazario10). I believe that when these parents leave, the small children

begin to feel as if they are unlovable. This lack of affection and discipline lead the

children to make bad decisions later in life. For example, Enrique turns to drugs

after feeling rejection from his family and hopelessness of his mother’s return.

The feeling of being lost in his own life is the deciding factor for why Enrique must

reach his mother in America. Since children like Enrique and Belky lack security

in their own lives, they will go to desperate measures to find some. I believe that

love is truly the driving force behind why illegal immigrants enter America. Do

you?