Guatemalans & Salvadorans Community in Los Angeles

Driven by the pressures of poverty and civil strife at home, large numbers of Central Americans came to the Los Angeles area during the 1980s. These immigrants, neither purely economic migrants seeking stable work nor official refugees carrying the scars of war and persecution, were even denied the aid given to refugees such as Cubans and Vietnamese. They sought refuge in a city undergoing massive economic and demographic shifts of its own, resulting in a complex interaction that will help to reconceptualize the migration experience.

Based on twenty years of work with the Los Angeles Central American community and filled with facts, figures, and personal narratives, "Seeking Community in a Global City" presents this saga from many perspectives. The authors examine the forces in Central America that sent thousands of people streaming across international borders, discussing the economic, political, and demographic changes in the Los Angeles region and the difficulties the new immigrants faced in negotiating a new, urban environment. They also explore the immigrants' family roles, networking, work strategies, and inter-ethnic relationships as they sought to establish a sense of community in their new home.

The influx of Central American immigrants to Los Angeles during the 1980s was not a straightforward economic or political phenomenon. While they were driven by the pressures of poverty and civil strife in their home countries, these immigrants did not fit neatly into the categories of economic migrants or official refugees. Denied the aid given to other refugee groups, they faced the challenge of seeking refuge in a city that was itself undergoing significant transformations. This complex interaction is the focus of "Seeking Community in a Global City," a book that draws on extensive research and personal narratives to explore the multifaceted experience of these immigrants.

The authors delve into the forces that compelled thousands of Central Americans to leave their homelands, examining the economic, political, and demographic changes that shaped the Los Angeles region during this period. They also shed light on the difficulties the new immigrants faced in navigating the urban environment, from negotiating family roles and networking to developing work strategies and navigating inter-ethnic relationships. Through this in-depth exploration, the book aims to reconceptualize the migration experience, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges and resilience of these Central American communities.

Overall, "Seeking Community in a Global City" provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of the complex migration patterns and experiences of Central Americans in Los Angeles during a transformative period. By drawing on a wealth of research and personal accounts, the authors present a compelling narrative that challenges simplistic notions of economic or political migration, and instead highlights the multifaceted nature of the immigrant experience in a rapidly changing urban landscape.

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