Essay: Understanding Child Immigrant Journeys Through 'Which Way Home'

This essay examines the underlying reasons that compel young children to risk crossing the border into the United States, as depicted in the film 'Which Way Home.' It highlights parental negligence, poverty, and child trafficking as significant factors driving children to undertake perilous journeys. The essay points out that many children are left without parental care, leading them to seek their parents in America, while others are forced to work to support their families back home. Child labor and the lack of educational opportunities further exacerbate the situation, violating children's rights. The essay concludes that society is to blame for the vulnerability of these young children, emphasizing the need for better child upbringing and support systems. This essay provides valuable insights into the complex issues surrounding child immigration and the responsibilities of society towards these vulnerable individuals.

Running head: ESSAY
Essay - Which Way Home
Student’s Name:
Institution:

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Which Way Home
There are many illegal immigrants to America. It is understandable particularly when
adults cross the borders in the pursuit of better wages for the sake of their families. The film,
‘which way home’ illustrates the journey of young children to the United States from Mexico. It
is worrying when minors are getting to risk their lives crossing the border for one reason or
another. The situation points the existence of problems in the family setting and upbringing of
children. Could there be neglect of parental role and child care in the family?
It is with this view that the essay is going to examine the underlying reasons that compel
young children risking crossing the border-defying all the odds of border security, hunger and
bad weather among other dangers and in the end give a conclusion.
Parental negligence is the first problem depicted that arises in the society which forces
young children to contend bad weather, hunger, the danger of falling off the trains or being
killed. There are children who are left behind with no parental care back are home. Olga, Freddy,
and nine-year-old Hondurans are desperate for parental care and they are crossing the border to
find their parents in Minnesota. Parental love and care is a force that can never be resisted by any
child and it costs anything for a child to attain especially when there is evidence that parents are
still alive. It is the reason as to why these children are risking their lives.
Furthermore, the loneliness and poverty in the stricken areas do not allow kids to reside
comfortably in their native homes. The expectation of better life in the north excites them to
leave their home country with the hope of getting a better life elsewhere.
On the other hand, child trafficking still gets practiced in some parts of the society where
young children get smuggled to other nations for child labor. There is a likelihood of child

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trafficking in the in El Salvador and it's neighboring. Jose who is ten years old is from El
Salvador and he was abandoned in Mexico by people smugglers.
Additionally, parents compel their children to look for work and support them as is seen
by Kevin who is fourteen years. He is sent by his parents to go and find work in New York City
so that he sends money back home. The society is in a mess because parents who are supposed to
gather for their kids and demanding support from them instead. The society is lacking virtues of
good children up bring and support. Child labor still gets encouraged. This is an abuse of
children’s rights. At the age of fourteen years, children have the right to education as a way of
preparing for the future life and the betterment of the society.
In conclusion, irrespective of the illegality of border crossing and illegal immigrants to
America, the situations engulfing young kids is the reason for them defying all odds to cross-
border to the United States. The society is to blame since young children are left vulnerable at
the tender age yet there are custodians responsible for these future generations.

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References
BIBLIOGRAPHY Cammila. (n.d.). Which Way Home. Retrieved from
https://gloria.tv/video/62mZ4h4nWTVp4k34ZimStqvEv