Immigrants to US Struggle to Support Families Back Home

Migrant workers have to support their families back home, but there is so little work here for them, that they are having difficulty supporting themselves. - - Donna Poisl

By Gabe Joselow, Washington

A shopping mall parking lot is a gathering place for migrants looking for work. On a cold morning in March, about 50 men stand in near silence, hoping to attract an employer in need of cheap day labor.

Andres Lopez, from Guatemala, says there has been hardly any work for the past year. He blames the recession."Its affected all of the workers in this area," he says, "I think we all know that we came here to find work but right now its very hard.

"Without work, Lopez says he has hardly enough money to support himself, let alone to send to his family in Guatemala.His story points to a growing trend -- migrants finding it increasingly difficult to continue sending money to their home countries.

Analysts say the development is surprising because during previous times of economic uncertainty, the flow of remittances has remained stable or even grown.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.