Growing Familiar with the New Phenomenon

Being an illegal immigrant is tough. Not many people seem to realize that most immigrants work multiple jobs for very little money and they live in deplorable conditions in order to save up money to support their families back home.

I´ve never understood why people are so threatened by working class immigrants, especially in Spain, where immigration is still a fairly new phenomenon. What´s truely scary is that I´ve heard Spaniards in Madrid talking about these new immigrants, who keep the city functional by working as builders, garbagemen, waiters, etc., as though they are little more than animals that have come to ruin über-civilized Spain.

I don´t think most Spaniards realize what it´s like for illegal immigrants. There´s poverty, instability, racism, fear of deportation, scams promising better work or work papers that con them out of their hard-earned money, nowhere to turn when they need help.

I read an article in the June 28, 2005 20 Minutos about how the number of apartments no bigger than 60 square meters shared by up 20 people is increasing in Madrid. It is primarily the South American and Chinese immigrants that survive by sleeping in building stairways, balconies and stuffed into cramped apartments.

The skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the city are partially to blame. However, dirty business a huge factor. The average monthly rent of a 60 square meter apartment is approximately 600 euros. In a lot of cases the original renters sublet the apartment to multiple people who pay approximately 100 euros a month to live in a room with three or more other people. The aparment owners are usually aware of what is going on, but look the other way.

When I read the story, it made me think of the "immigrant spirit." These people are so desperately committed to establishing themselves economically that they will live for years without any privacy or comfort. These people are stronger and more determined than I think I could ever be. However, it also reminds me that there are many many people profiting from the misery of others, and I can´t shake the feeling that some Spaniard will read that article and find one more reason to dehumanize these hardworking, self-sacrificing individuals.