Don't know if anyone noticed one of the NYT front page articles two days ago about Mexican immigrants wanting to be buried back in Mexico? I realize that there was also an article about the last episode of 'The Sopranos' on the front page that eclipsed this one but since I have never seen The Sopranos, that story did not consume my interest, I was drawn to the other side. The article can be viewed at, In Return Home to Mexico Grave, An Industry Rises.Last summer we had brunch with our friends, Jim and Marisa, two NYU professors whom I love talking with. I was telling them about a book I was reading "Enrique's Journey" about a young Mexican boy's trouble making it across the border.
Marisa is from Mexico and so she is educated on the topic. I've been interested in the immigrants plight as well. Jim told me this fascinating fact that I did not know, he said that mexican immigrants aren't buried here. They all want to be laid to rest in their country, which he felt proved the point that they don't want to be American citizens. They come here to work; whereas in Mexico they may make $5/day, here there can earn $5/hour. Most come with the intention of working a couple of years, saving their money, and returning to Mexico. He was telling me that they don't come here because they admire the American lifestyle, but because they can make money here so that they can go back to their country and live well.
This article touched upon the same theory. Although there are no stats on how many illegal aliens die in the United States, there are stats on how many bodies are flown to Mexico for burials. I wonder what percentage it is.