1. A Tale of Illegal Immigrants
Mexico
to the USA
A Tale of Illegal Immigrants

2. This is the border between Mexico and the United States
This is the border between Mexico and the United States. The border stretches along four states of the US:
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Use your atlas to measure the length of the border between the USA & Mexico

3. MEXICO TO THE USA
Why do people try to cross the border illegally ?
What are the push factors ?
What are the pull factors ?

6. The Battle of the Cowboys versus the Mexican Immigrants
Much of the land in southern Arizona is cattle farming territory
This means that there are large spaces of open land available to illegal immigrants wanting to cross the border
This provides an immigrant with a suitable, and ‘safe’ place to cross the border.

7. Imagine you are an illegal immigrant from Mexico trying to get across into USA. Why would you want to cross here? Think of as many reasons as you can.
Why do you think that the Cowboys of Arizona are against this ‘human traffic?’

8. The Cowboys Argument…
The cowboys of Arizona are only trying to make sure their livelihoods remain intact
Joe Harris is a rancher on the border:
“a lot of them bring garbage bags…they use them to sleep in or use them as makeshift rain ponchos. My cattle pick them up and chew on them. They get in to their stomachs and plug them up…eventually the cows starve to death.”

9. The cowboys refer to the huge numbers of immigrants coming across the border as an invasion.
Some cowboys have resorted to extreme tactics of detaining any immigrants found on their land…
“…I would exert enough force to protect me and my family…they would be bought and paid for.” (this means he would be prepared to detain immigrants found on his land by gun point and possibly shoot them!)

10. Around 1,000,000 people a year are caught by the United States Border Patrol trying to cross the border. Many of these are repeat offenders.
What would make you risk a crossing ?
What do you think most American’s think of the ‘illegal aliens’ or ‘pollos’ as they are called ?
Why are some people glad to see the illegal immigrants?

11. The border at night

12. Why do Mexicans Want to Move?
Mexicans cross the border in search of a better life.
The movement of people was seen to be at first, a problem for Mexico.
However, most migrants send money back to their home country – these are known as ‘remittances.’
In 2003 the amount of money sent back to Mexico was more than $13 billion
This money is being used to alleviate poverty, spur investment, and improve standards of living
Migrants from Mexico are now called heroes and not traitors for leaving their homeland for USA.

13. Creative Writing...
You are now to begin a piece of creative writing about migration from Mexico to the USA.
Imagine that you are one of the many Mexicans desperate to get into the USA, bearing in mind the numerous push and pull factors that you are aware of….
You cannot cross the border legally; you must sneak across.
You are to produce a piece of writing telling the story of how you managed to cross the border (or not!!)

14. How to write creatively…
use the past tense
first person viewpoint (ie. “I”)
in chronological order (ie. Order of time)
opening paragraph: describe your situation, your feelings and your plans
2nd paragraph: the start of your journey, perhaps mentioning the push factors
3rd paragraph: your journey over the border, still mentioning push but also pull factors
use adjectives to project the mood and describe your feelings
include lots of your feelings; how would you feel if you got caught??

15. Try to include:
Details of the push factors that are making you want to move. Think about money, housing, crime, lack of employment opportunities, natural hazards (earthquakes), transport systems
What was attracting you towards the USA (pull factors) ?
How you travelled over the border ?
Any danger you experienced along the way; did you meet the border patrols, did you pay a ‘coyote’ to help ?
What you did if you managed to cross the border