Over the next five years, the numbers of undocumented immigrants will only grow as the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is implemented. CAFTA is a free trade agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Costa Rica is
also included in the plan but as of yet has not ratified the agreement due to Costa Rican citizens 'widespread and vocalized disapproval of CAFTA. The US contends that free trade between the US and Central America will benefit participant countries by creating jobs and strengthening democracy. But if the results are anything like NAFTA, the agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico, big businesses will be the only ones winning.

Many in Central America believe that the agreement forces them to change their own laws to make the environment more suitable to business. This comes at the cost of eliminating environmental protections and labor rights. The new jobs that CAFTA will produce will most likely be in the maquilas or sweatshops, workplaces notorious for poor working conditions, worker exploitation, and illegal labor practices—all eerily similar to the conditions the marchers in Chicago  ago fought to change a hundred years ago . Yet, this is the new economic future many Central Americans are doomed to follow and CAFTA supporters hail as growth. The US has given millions of dollars to local governments to improve enforcement of labor and environmental laws. In Guatemala, new labor inspectors have been hired to enforce labor law. Despite this effort, enforcement has not improved and companies have a sense of impunity. The US says they want to improve labor rights, while at the same time forcing the government to change its laws in order to make business more profitable. The easiest way to increase profits is to cut labor costs. Workers will face more exploitations as they are forced to work overtime, for less pay, and worse conditions. To seek a better future, many will follow in the steps of millions of immigrants and head north, to the United States, where they will likely be exploited and underpaid due to their precarious legal status .

Many of the same people who abhor illegal immigration are supporting a trade deal that will inevitably lead to more forced migration. As the economic and employment situation worsens for workers in their home countries, they will continue to dream of a better future for themselves and their families. This May Day, thousands more will rally to ensure they achieve that dream—like the thousands of our labor forefathers and foremothers who marched in Chicago over a hundred years ago. The question is will the labor movement march with them? Will U.S workers be able to see the parallels between their history and those who march for the rights of immigrants?