Expectations and motivations of Hondurans migrating to the United States

Abstract

This study explores the expectations and decision-making processes of potential migrants at a community in Honduras. Hondurans have become one of the fastest growing populations in New York. Yet, although approximately 80 000 Hondurans try to reach the US annually, only 25 per cent succeed. To reach the United States they must undergo a dangerous journey across Guatemala and Mexico, a process to date under-researched by social sciences. As new undocumented migrant streams continue to expand within the global economies, scholars and practitioners who work on their behalf should understand the pre-migration values and expectations because they shape the way migrants adjust to and develop new cultural patterns in the receiving countries. Drawing on immigration and narrative theory, I hypothesize that narratives of migration from media, prior migrants, coyotes and community practices play an important role in the construction of potential migrant expectations. To represent narratives across several individual and community domains, the research design includes individual interviews, analysis of local newspapers, participant observations and teaching English classes. Analysis across these data reveals complex dilemmas potential migrants face as they weigh the costs and benefits of migration.

Understanding Undocumented Migration from Honduras

“…If all income levels are taken into consideration, socio‐demographic characteristics become relevant. In many ways these results reflect the findings of previous ethnographic research by Schmalzbauer (), Sladkova (), Ensor () or Reichman (), where expectations and need shaped the decision to migrate in the communities under study. The results also fall closer to what Massey et al.…”

Resiliency in the Face of Disadvantage: Do Hispanic Cultural Characteristics Protect Health Outcomes?

“…Being an “undocumented” immigrant (i.e., living in the United States without legal documentation) fosters additional adversity, such as severe occupational and economic hardship, fear of deportation, and residential instability (Perez‐Smith, Spirito, & Boergers, 2002). Moreover, the process of unauthorized immigration itself is expensive and often traumatic, frequently leading to injury, extortion, detention, or even death (Sladkova, 2007).…”

The role of migration in the development of depressive symptoms among Latino immigrant parents in the USA

“…Furthermore, migrants from Latin America are increasingly settling in new immigrant destinations in the Southern and Midwestern US, increasing the time spent in transit and thus, the potential for facing adversity (Kandel & Parrado, 2005; Kochkar, Suro, & Tafoya, 2005). During their travels, they experience traumatic events, such as sexual and physical abuse, robbery, and illness, and are vulnerable to exploitation (DeLuca, McEwen, & Keim, 2010; Moynihan, Gaboury, & Onken, 2008; Rasmussen, Rosenfeld, Reeves, & Keller, 2007; Sladkova, 2007). Consequently, migration can be quite stressful, especially for parents traveling with children or concerned about family members left behind (Cavazos-Rehg, Zayas, & Spitznagel, 2007; DeLuca et al, 2010).…”