WHY

For many migrants, the path ahead is not a choice, but a difficult decision of necessity. Each color symbolizes migrants’ reasons for migrating. Primarily driven by economic motivations (80%, blue), migrants seek to support their family's basic needs by sending remittances, which are primarily spent on food and shelter. Some migrants also feel pressure to emigrate because of security concerns (purple), the effects of climatic shocks (green), quality of life (yellow), and reunification with family members (orange) who have already migrated.

The money within the tapestry represents that migration comes at high costs. In 2021, Central American migrants collectively spent USD 2.2 billion to migrate to the United States. Raising funds through loans mostly from relatives and friends, the figures amassed by migrants are comparable with government spending on primary education. For example, Guatemalan migrants spent USD 1.2 billion to migrate, while their government spent USD 1.3 billion on primary education.