
Elmer and I were talking about the Caravan from Honduras. Elmer knows a lot about Honduras. His family migrated from Honduras to the United States when he was fifteen, and went through all the steps to citizenship, which was granted a few years later. Elmer now has his own business, employing three/four licensed plumbers, his wife (who runs the office), and a couple of apprentices. All are from Latin America, either citizens or on the way. Elmer voted for President Trump and intends to do so next time as well. But he doesn’t know what to do about the Caravan.
His parents still have a house in both countries and travel back and forth regularly. Elmer doesn’t go to Honduras any more. It is just too dangerous and too depressing. As he describes it, the gangs run the neighborhoods, and the government is run by gangsters. There is no law enforcement or protection for ordinary citizens from the extortion, kidnapping, sexual abuse of women, and simple cruelty of the gangs.