Part 2 -  If you were born into the conditions described in my first post,  and you heard of a chance to escape to provide your children wtih a better life and a better future, would you try to do it?  Suppose you inquire and discover that the wait list to immigrate to the US from your country is years long. Your children cannot be saved if you wait that long.  You hear about someone who will sneak you into the US. Your children's lives and futures are at stake. What would you do?   Imagine you are in a city - the water is clean, and the schools don't stop in 3rd grade. But you live in degrading poverty, there are few decent jobs. The violence is even worse than for most in the villages.  Your children, espcially your sons, will risk their lives to a bullet (or worse) if they refuse to join one of the gangs.  You can escape - but not legally.  What would you do?