In the state of Zacatecas, entire communities in municipalities such as Río Grande, Jerez, Valparaíso and Fresnillo survive thanks to remittances, dollars from the work of their fellow countrymen in areas such as agriculture, construction and maquila in the United States (US).
Rafael is a resident of Río Grande and he is supported thanks to the money his children and brothers send him.
“Well, look, things are very difficult here, since there is not enough work and the little there is is poorly paid. Here, most people, we could almost say all, survive thanks to the remittances that come to them from the United States (…) well, I am one of those, a beneficiary, I have my brothers and my children there, I have three children working in the United States who support me to get ahead here, to get ahead and to support the family, and I also work here a little, but most of my support comes from the United States”
Rafael Martínez, resident of the municipality of Río Grande, Zacatecas
Unlike the rest of the population in Mexico, the price of the dollar affects the countrymen and their families, who mainly use these resources for daily expenses.
“When the dollar goes down, it does affect us, because less money is sent, even if the same amount is sent, when it goes up or down, when it goes down it affects us more, because, well, the money goes further”
Vanesa Gutiérrez, resident of the municipality of Jerez, Zacatecas
Even with this support, many migrant families barely survive due to the increase in the cost of products and services in Mexico.
“No, because here the salary is very little, very low and, honestly, if they weren’t supporting us from there, it wouldn’t be possible”
Norma García, resident of the municipality of Calera, Zacatecas
But the price that must be paid to obtain these dollars is too high, family disintegration is a constant among the families of the countrymen.
“No. My husband is not coming, since he left illegally, he cannot come (…) the decision that he makes, that he is going to the United States, well, it affected us a lot and to this day we have not assimilated it to the fact that we are alone, because, well, practically, although he is with us, he is far away, he supports us in everything from there, but sometimes we do resent the loneliness on the side that he, sometimes, is not there.”
Source: unotv
