Building Community: The Influence of Informal Networks in Guatemalan American Enclaves

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of Guatemalan Americans, a steadily growing community shaped by migration history and socio-economic challenges. While media narratives since 2017 have focused on caravans from the Northern Triangle fleeing hardship, this research shifts attention to what happens after arrival. Through surveys conducted with participants from the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), the study explores how informal support networks—especially churches and community-based organizations—help build community cohesion and address economic and legal vulnerabilities. By highlighting these networks’ role in fostering resilience and adaptation, the research fills a gap in the literature and contributes to a deeper understanding of immigrant integration in the U.S.