Crossing Over: A Narrative Inquiry of One Man’s Journey Across the Mexico/U.S. Border
Crossing Over: A Narrative Inquiry of One Man’s Journey Across the Mexico/U.S. Border

Summary/Abstract: Illegal immigration is a highly debated issue in today’s sociopolitical climate. While many U.S. citizens proclaim to be concerned about border security, there is also a great push to protect undocumented people who have lived in the United States most of their lives. Current research suggests that there has been an insignificant decline in undocumented immigration with most undocumented immigrants having been in the U.S. for more than ten years. With tightened border security, many immigrants endeavoring to cross the U.S./Mexico border today are forced to attempt more and more treacherous treks. Many immigrants lose their lives in these attempts; therefore, Coyotes (human traffickers) are sought to assist in finding unmonitored paths across the border. This qualitative narrative inquiry discusses the journey of one man crossing over from Mexico to the U.S. without authorization. Additionally, it the study highlights the personal trials he faced while trying to gain citizenship in the U.S. and provides insight into the issue of human trafficking while crossing over. The participant’s narrative is then compared with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to illustrate the findings and implications.

• Details
• Contents