Elias Landsmanas Teams Up With Anáhuac University to Better
Understand Migration of Minors Traveling to USA
Elias
Landsmanas is the director
of Corportivo Kosmos, a major food industry supplier in Mexico. However,
his mission goes far beyond that of the corporate world. His high-status
position in Mexico gives him numerous resources to work with, and he wants to
use those resources for the better.
It’s
why he’s decided to partner with Anáhuac University to understand more about
the patterns of migration for minors. From the initial reasons of coming to the
U.S. to the lasting repercussions of their journey, this is a major issue that
affects us all. By going deeper into such a complex story, he hopes to reveal
some real solutions buried underneath the controversy.
A New Collaboration
Elias
Landsmanas is focusing on the welfare of minors because they are especially
vulnerable to the dangers of immigration. While many young people have plenty
of street smarts, they don’t always have the life experience to make the kinds
of decisions that they’re asked to make on a regular basis.
This
new partnership aims to get a better handle on how people approach migrant
minors, as well as propose some possible answers to the problems. What exactly
do they need to be supported in life? How can they get the opportunities that
they so desperately crave?
The
project is headed by Dr. Pablo Pérez Akaki at
the university, and it will focus on how unaccompanied minors live, make
choices, and solve problems. Only when we know the details can we begin to
understand how to improve this obviously broken system.
Understanding the Issues at Hand
The
Elias
Landsmanas Dymensztejn-Anáhuac Research Chair is interested in how all
lives are impacted by immigration policies. Their first endeavor was
to present a webinar called “Migration to the United States
After COVID-19.” This presentation included Rafael Fernández from the
University of California San Diego weighing in on the topic.
America
has continued to throw up new obstacles for immigrants from a number of
countries, and the process has only gotten worse with the threat of a pandemic
hanging in the air. There are reports of officials using the hazards of illness
as a way to keep information away from migrants who are already in America.
It’s also become a convenient way to shut down new immigration efforts before
they even begin.
As
it stands, there’s never been a better time for additional insight into the
lives of migrants. In the news, the issue is often discussed with very little
understanding of the actual issues. Politicians might reduce it to a single
factor, whether they’re for harsher penalties or more open borders.
The
realities of immigration can also be misunderstood by those in foreign
countries. Some people might believe that it’s easy to cross over, with a new
life waiting for them on the other side. Some people might have an idea of the
risks, but quickly determine that the rewards are well worth taking on the
potential dangers.
It’s
difficult to account for people’s perceptions, especially when you consider
that many migrants feel they don’t really have a choice. Whatever they’re
leaving can’t possibly be worse than whatever’s ahead of them.
Why
do unaccompanied children come to the U.S.? What do they expect when they
arrive? How will they lead their lives once they have the chance to? These
answers depend on a number of factors, including age, financial circumstances,
and legal concerns. To stand any chance of protecting minors, we need to know
them.
The Risks
More
than 43,000 minors come to Mexico alone from countries like El Salvador and
Honduras. The research chair that’s been established with the help of
Corporativo Kosmos knows far too well the risks that minors face. Due to
their age and lack of resources, they try to enter illegally.
There
are several transit points into the U.S., many staffed with guides who are
there to help people move through the desert and bypass the immigration
officials and guards who patrol the standard borders.
To
cross the desert, a person needs immense physical strength and mental stamina.
They might have to go without water for several days. They might lose their
possessions if they run across a group of criminals. And
unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to perish during these exhausting
trips.
Children
especially face some of the worst possible dangers at the hands of dangerous
people. They face higher odds of being raped or being kidnapped for the sale of
their organs. Yet despite all of these potential travesties, immigration has
only become more popular amongst unaccompanied minors.
It’s why centers have sprung up in Mexico to offer minors food, shelter, and medical support. Philanthropists have taken it upon themselves to serve as a light in the dark for those who need it the most. If they can intervene at the right time, they can potentially change the entire course of a child’s life. The research from this collaboration might inspire anything from more funding to a more effective way to help minors opt for a safer path.
The Hope of Tomorrow
When
people come over to the U.S., they’re often in pursuit of a distinctly American
dream, one that’s likely been built up to the point of fantasy. The situation
that people actually encounter can be difficult to navigate at best and
life-threatening at worst.
Their
story, which is often one of tremendous bravery, is crucial if we want
to make it better for them. The foundation wants to examine these details
in relation to the many adults in the minor’s life. This is not a matter of
providing a meal or two to a minor and then sending them on their
way.
The
larger goal is to contribute to a better country for all Mexican people.
Businessmen and foundation leaders take responsibility for the state
of their country. They take active roles in what happens there. It
takes real vision and commitment to bring about such a change, one that all
nations should take note of.
The Story of Elias Landsmanas
To
understand why this is such an important topic for Landsmanas, it helps to
understand his personal story. Elias Landsmanas came to Mexico in the late
1950s with his parents. Unlike many immigrant children today, he was able to
look to his parents as role models who wanted to make their mark in their new
country.
His
father, Pablo Landsmanas, founded Corporativo Kosmos, a corporation that prides
itself on quality and versatility. Like so many entrepreneurs that came before
and after Pablo, his success was built on finding ways to adapt to new markets
and outpace competitors.
But
the Landsmanas family was also interested in giving back to the community as
much as they received from it. The legacy they wanted to build started with
giving food to needy individuals and families, such as those who were sick,
poor, or otherwise incapacitated.
It’s
why the Pablo
Landmanas Foundation was officially born. Named for the man who began it
all, the mission of the foundation was to promote a number of philanthropic
endeavors. From education to environmental responsibility, the organization has
taken an active role to keep vulnerable populations well cared for.
Lasting Effects
The
foundation understands the larger benefits of minor migration. If they can get
the situation under control, their research might spark real policy change in
other regions. Other populations facing similar situations may be able to adapt
some of the lessons to serve different groups.
Corportivo
Kosmos has thrived because its leaders have always seen the bigger
picture. Pablo Landsmanas always saw the opportunities to branch out and do
more in his work. Rather than letting the barriers stand in his way, he pushed
forward to offer new services and expand his vision. Eight thousand people in
the country have jobs because of him.
These
same values are carried into the charitable work that the company takes on too.
More than 450,000 meals per month are handed out to those who need them most.
Scholarships are doled out to the children of the employees of the corporation.
This latest project is just one of many that are all designed to improve
people’s lives and give them more options to pursue their dreams.
The problems
that lie behind immigration can’t be solved overnight, but they can be solved
with enough attention. Anáhuac University has a serious job to do, but
they have the right kind of support behind them. Elias Landsmanas is passionate
about keeping minors as safe as possible and helping them move from one phase
of their life to the next. Once he’s helped to establish the right foundation,
his country can start putting the building blocks into place. Ultimately, the
whole world might see more success stories and fewer failures as a
result.