It's been two weeks since I withdrew from Great Facebook Politics War and declared neutrality. I have to say, it's been more difficult to remain uninvolved than I had thought it would be. My main recourse has mostly been to just stay off Facebook altogether. When I have gone on, I immediately regret it, as the whirlwind posting of left and right wing propaganda seemingly has continued unabated. However, I have experienced some positive results these past two weeks. My blood pressure has been lower, and I'm much less argumentative in general.
As the battle continues to rage in the USA between the left and the right, I have been thinking about Honduras since the elections and the riots last November. I read today that last week the First Lady of Honduras went to the US border to inspect detention centers. (As first lady, the country's child welfare services falls under her oversight.) I personally, was very happy to see her go and review the situation firsthand. During her visit, she admonished her own people to "stay home for the safety of your children". She also said that President Orlando is committed to addressing the issues in Honduras that are encouraging Hondurans to leave their own country. I view Honduras accepting their responsibility in this problem as a huge step towards solving this issue of illegal immigration.
The absolute number 1 reason people make the dangerous and costly journey north through Guatemala and Mexico is economics. It isn't fleeing violence or gangs, although these do play a role in this story; it's in search of jobs.
I find it very interesting that, with the exception of two families, of all the many men and women that I have interviewed who have made the trip illegally, none have had any real desire to become American citizens and live in the USA forever. (The two families would actually like to become US citizens someday and went north in the hope of providing their children with a better future) Instead, what I have seen time and time again, is that as soon as the individual arrives in the USA and finds employment, they first begin sending money home to their families to help support them and second, begin sending money home to build themselves a house for when they return and third, they begin saving money in order to start a small business...in Honduras. (Please read my post "Why I'm mad...and sad" )
What role has crime and violence played in illegal immigration? While the media has portrayed illegal immigrants as "refugees" fleeing a war zone, this is not at all accurate. I live here in Honduras. I know what I'm speaking of. With the exception of gang controlled barrios in the larger cities, most of Honduras is a reasonably safe place to live. Typically, if you mind your own business, don't get mixed up with trouble makers and leave other's wives and girlfriends alone, you'll be okay. If you live in one of the gang controlled areas. then it's true that staying safe is much harder. However, that leaves the rest of Honduras for people to move to in order to "escape" the violence. Ah, but there's one problem: those places don't have much in the way of jobs either, so when they finally do decide to leave the barrio they head to the US instead of a safe town in Honduras. This is why I say with confidence that the ultimate motivation to travel through two countries illegally and risk life and limb is economics, plain and simple.
People close to President Orlando have told me that since the November elections and riots and particularly the death of his sister in a helicopter crash during that same time, that these events have affected him dramatically. He is a more serious person and he is serious about bringing change to Honduras. He has chosen to work closely with the United States and the war on drugs, illegal immigration and organized crime, believing that this is best for his country. If this is true, I couldn't agree more with his decision. (Please read my post "When the righteous prosper the city rejoices")
What Honduras and Hondurans need are jobs, with foreign investment being at the top of the list on where those jobs come from. With Orlando's Plan 2020, he hopes to encourage foreign investors to see Honduras as a legitimate investment opportunity. His plan seems to be bearing fruit already; Green4U Technologies just announced their intention to invest 20 million USD in a new electric vehicle assembly plant in Honduras. This is incredible news for Honduras!
Today I spoke with a man I have known for years and who is one of the most honorable men I know. He's a coffee grower, barely eking out a living as coffee prices have plummeted over the past few years. I asked him if he thought it was right for Hondurans to go to the USA illegally. He said this, "I think it would be far better for people to stay here and find a way to support their families, but if you have nothing, you do what you have to do."
We are committed to investing in and providing jobs to Honduras. If you would like to partner with us in helping Hondurans stay home by providing jobs, please contact me for more information at mwolfe.ent@gmail.com. We welcome you to come and experience firsthand what Honduras offers investors.
As the battle continues to rage in the USA between the left and the right, I have been thinking about Honduras since the elections and the riots last November. I read today that last week the First Lady of Honduras went to the US border to inspect detention centers. (As first lady, the country's child welfare services falls under her oversight.) I personally, was very happy to see her go and review the situation firsthand. During her visit, she admonished her own people to "stay home for the safety of your children". She also said that President Orlando is committed to addressing the issues in Honduras that are encouraging Hondurans to leave their own country. I view Honduras accepting their responsibility in this problem as a huge step towards solving this issue of illegal immigration.
The absolute number 1 reason people make the dangerous and costly journey north through Guatemala and Mexico is economics. It isn't fleeing violence or gangs, although these do play a role in this story; it's in search of jobs.
I find it very interesting that, with the exception of two families, of all the many men and women that I have interviewed who have made the trip illegally, none have had any real desire to become American citizens and live in the USA forever. (The two families would actually like to become US citizens someday and went north in the hope of providing their children with a better future) Instead, what I have seen time and time again, is that as soon as the individual arrives in the USA and finds employment, they first begin sending money home to their families to help support them and second, begin sending money home to build themselves a house for when they return and third, they begin saving money in order to start a small business...in Honduras. (Please read my post "Why I'm mad...and sad" )
What role has crime and violence played in illegal immigration? While the media has portrayed illegal immigrants as "refugees" fleeing a war zone, this is not at all accurate. I live here in Honduras. I know what I'm speaking of. With the exception of gang controlled barrios in the larger cities, most of Honduras is a reasonably safe place to live. Typically, if you mind your own business, don't get mixed up with trouble makers and leave other's wives and girlfriends alone, you'll be okay. If you live in one of the gang controlled areas. then it's true that staying safe is much harder. However, that leaves the rest of Honduras for people to move to in order to "escape" the violence. Ah, but there's one problem: those places don't have much in the way of jobs either, so when they finally do decide to leave the barrio they head to the US instead of a safe town in Honduras. This is why I say with confidence that the ultimate motivation to travel through two countries illegally and risk life and limb is economics, plain and simple.
People close to President Orlando have told me that since the November elections and riots and particularly the death of his sister in a helicopter crash during that same time, that these events have affected him dramatically. He is a more serious person and he is serious about bringing change to Honduras. He has chosen to work closely with the United States and the war on drugs, illegal immigration and organized crime, believing that this is best for his country. If this is true, I couldn't agree more with his decision. (Please read my post "When the righteous prosper the city rejoices")
What Honduras and Hondurans need are jobs, with foreign investment being at the top of the list on where those jobs come from. With Orlando's Plan 2020, he hopes to encourage foreign investors to see Honduras as a legitimate investment opportunity. His plan seems to be bearing fruit already; Green4U Technologies just announced their intention to invest 20 million USD in a new electric vehicle assembly plant in Honduras. This is incredible news for Honduras!
Today I spoke with a man I have known for years and who is one of the most honorable men I know. He's a coffee grower, barely eking out a living as coffee prices have plummeted over the past few years. I asked him if he thought it was right for Hondurans to go to the USA illegally. He said this, "I think it would be far better for people to stay here and find a way to support their families, but if you have nothing, you do what you have to do."
For those of you who know me personally, I'm sure you have heard me say over and over again, "Stop complaining and start doing something to change the world around you."
We are committed to investing in and providing jobs to Honduras. If you would like to partner with us in helping Hondurans stay home by providing jobs, please contact me for more information at mwolfe.ent@gmail.com. We welcome you to come and experience firsthand what Honduras offers investors.
