Sonia Nazario’s Enrique’s Journey brings the reader deep in to the challenges facing the tens of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. As she claims as its intent, Nazario’s book puts a human face on the numbers. Both in the experience of Enrique and his mother Lourdes we see the living conditions, instability, poverty, and exploitation that many immigrants face. Here are some productive questions to answer as one studies the final four chapters and afterword of the book:

1. On page 199 where conflicts with Enrique are described, Lourdes feels resentment because her son does not appreciate the poverty and humiliation she has undergone after she left him in Honduras. What are examples of the poverty and humiliating circumstances that Lourdes lives through?

2. Based on the experiences in this book, describe the living conditions, level of income and expenses that immigrants face in the U.S.?

3. Based on the afterword, what are the effects that large-scale emigration to the U.S. on Latin American societies?