Was It Worth It?

A prominent theme throughout Enrique’s Journey is motherly love and its effects on migration to the United States. Though the journey is risky and nonetheless illegal, mothers make the trek to prove their affection by sending money for their children to prosper back home. Despite the fact that this conveyance appears to satisfy children materialistically, there is still a void in their lives. When Enrique finally crosses the border and is reunited with Lourdes, he is initially somewhat disappointed in their relationship. They begin to disagree frequently, and he realizes that the lack of his mother’s presence in his childhood has affected him greatly. He states, "’You left me, abandoned me…  You forgot about me’” (Nazario 198). As Lourdes began to make money in America, she seems to forget the true reason that she crossed the border in the first place. The occasional phone calls and letters between her and her children become more meaningless, for she is now mainly concentrated on making money. When Lourdes has another child, Enrique sees her as selfish for starting a new life in America with a new daughter. With another mouth to feed, Lourdes should have considered her children back home first. Lourdes’s children now feel less important. In my eyes, a healthy relationship requires being there for each other consistently physically and emotionally. The separation between Lourdes and her children eventually cause those two key elements to fade away, leaving their relationship strained and unsatisfactory. In return Enrique and his sister feel forgotten and abandoned. The narrative states, “A true mother… isn't the person who carries you in her womb. It is someone who raises and nurtures you" (Nazario 198). To Enrique, Lourdes does not qualify as his mother. Even though they are eventually able to put aside their conflicts, he still wishes that his mother was more involved in his childhood. Though migrants may make money in America, they are forced leave behind the greatest riches of all.

I find that my greatest joy in life comes from relationships. Whether it is my relationship with family, friends, or even God, I would not compromise any of them. Personally, I disagree with illegal immigration. I understand that a mother’s love drives her to create the best opportunities for her children, but her presence in her child’s life is worth far much more. Perhaps with his mother’s guidance, Enrique would not have gotten involved with drugs or acted inappropriately around his family. If a family decides as a whole to legally apply for citizenship to the United States, I would encourage their prosperity and appreciate their determination for a better life. Some believe that committing crimes out of love is the best way to nurture their family in hopes of finding success; however, it is not the crime itself but the consequences of illegal immigration that sometimes tear families apart much like Enrique and his mother. Do you think that Lourdes’s journey worth it? Was Enrique’s journey was worth it?