According To Immigrant Workers, They Cannot Afford To Send Money Back Home Anymore

As a sign of the current state of the United States economy, most Mexican immigrants cannot afford to send money back to their families in Mexico. Eduardo Gutierrez gives his view on the matter.

One of those immigrants from Mexico, Eduardo Gutierrez gives his story. He worries about his parents that are still in Mexico. However, he cannot send money back home to Mexico anymore. The money is used to support his ailing father. Gutierrez is not an illegal immigrant, but a legal immigrant that has worked in the country for 20 years. He explains that today, he does not have the luxury of sending money back home to Mexico. Gutierrez explains that it is a difficult situation for him and his family. So far, he makes almost $19 an hour installing, fixing, and glazing glass. While that is considered to be a good living, he and many others have felt the sting of the current state of the United States economy. The economy has been on the issue on the minds of both Democratic and Republican voters. Its current state has hurt Gutierrez as his hours have been cut short. At the same time, the gas and food bills have increased at the same time. While trying to help his family, Gutierrez is also trying to support his own family. On the note of gas and food bills, there has been a heated debate presented yesterday. Top scientists part of the global network known as CGIAR which uses science to combat world hunger said that converting grain crops to bio-fuels such as ethanol is responsible for the high food prices. They had brought forth the fighting world hunger versus fighting high gas prices argument. Those scientists had blamed the increased use and production of bio-fuels for the rising cost of food. But, farmers and ethanol producers fired back. They explained that the increased cost of fuel is responsible for the rise of food prices. Regardless, Gutierrez still has to cope with working less hours and dealing with both the gas and food bills. The Bank of Mexico adds that money to Mexico from immigrant workers in the United States has dropped by at least $100M. Gutierrez’s father, Camilo Izquierdo, in Mexico had to sell off his livestock to make a living. In the past, he had 140 goats. Now, Gutierrez only has 40 goats left. At the same time, he can barely afford to buy medicine. On that note, Izquierdo adds that the medicine he needs ends up costing higher and higher.