By Juan Hernandez
«True leaders must be willing to sacrifice everything for the freedom of their people.»
Nelson Mandela
When Mario Alvarado and Diana Jiménez González, from the municipality of Pénjamo, asked me for help to arrange urgent support for their son Emmanuel, who requires a delicate heart operation, they knew that the task would not be easy, unless we had the support of our migrants.
Thanks to the fighting spirit of Yesenia Rojas, a proud Guanajuato native and migrant leader for many years, doors were opened in the United States that seemed unattainable for this family and, today, they have given little Emmanuel a new opportunity to live. Of that magnitude is the value of the struggle of our migrants, beyond the historical numbers of their remittances, which in themselves are a balm for the country’s economy. Their spirit of solidarity is essential to ensure the well-being of our countrymen, whatever or wherever the task that must be accomplished.
La Secretaría del Migrante y Enlace Internacional (The Secretariat for Migrants and International Liaison) was created to improve the quality of life of migrants and their families and this noble work would not be possible without the support of those of our leaders who help us open doors abroad that others are trying to close. Last week I had the opportunity to go on a work tour of California, to undertake activities for the benefit of migrants from Guanajuato who live in that area. The tour began with a visit to day laborers from Guanajuato who work in the city of Tustin. It was Yesenia who made everything possible for us so that we could offer the procedures and programs that we have in Guanajuato to help our countrymen get ahead.
Another friend and Guanajuato migrant leader who tirelessly works with his state government to support our countrymen is Joe Barba. In coordination with the “California Bajío de Bonillas” Migrants Club, from the Silao municipality and headed by Barba, we held a services fair in the city of Westminster to inform our Guanajuatenses about services to help them in their daily lives.
And since we are talking about the sum of efforts, I want to highlight that in this event we have the participation of the Guanajuato Government Secretariat, through the Civil Registry and the Virtual University of the State of Guanajuato, to motivate migrants and their families to finish their studies—fulfill their dreams—so that Guanajuato talent succeeds abroad.
Just like Yesenia and Joe, there are other migrant leaders who have been our faithful companions in every action we undertake to fulfill our task of integrating and dignifying migrants from Guanajuato and their families. What can I tell you about Martha Esquivel, originally from the municipality of León and president of the organization Mujeres Extraordinarias (Extraordinary Women), with which she encourages Mexican migrant women to enhance their talents and achieve an American dream that seems to be only for men? Or Andrés Solís, a native of Uriangato and an enthusiast who, through the Ojos de Agua Migrants Club and the Novillero Unidos, has achieved countless benefits for migrants from his land.
As we have seen, migrant leaders are an example of dedication to their people, for Mexico and for Guanajuato. Now, what other role do they play in the daily events of our country? Not only are they a helping hand for our countrymen who live in the United States, their leadership goes further, because they are spokespersons for the expectations of the people. On this tour I took the opportunity to listen to them, and they all agree on the concerns we are experiencing in Mexico, such as the militarization of the country and the way in which the crisis with Venezuelans seeking to reach the U.S. is being addressed. But they are also aware of the importance that the Latino vote will have in the next midterm elections in the United States and, above all, in the electoral contest of 2024, when the presidents of the United States and Mexico are elected. Migrant leaders are also social and political thermometers, and although the federation calls them “countrymen heroes,” they would prefer that they simply be treated on an equal footing and work together for the development of our people, as when the three-for-one program existed, for example.
The California tour could not conclude in a better way than with a breath of hope for our hearts. I closed the activities by visiting little Emmanuel, who is at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for various studies and then the operation that he so urgently requires. The little boy closed his fist and collided with mine, as our migrant leaders do who encourage us to achieve victory together, just as we did so that Emmanuel would have a new opportunity to live.
And you, what do you think of migrant leaders?
Let’s talk about it on: Facebook @juanhernandez.org and Twitter @JuanHernadezS.
Juan Hernández is currently the secretary of migration and international liaison of the government of Guanajuato.
