What are the pros and cons of the story?

The only advantage I see to Enrique's story is the fact that he was finally reunited with his mother, and that he was eventually able to make a life for himself in America. The cons are the difficulties and dangers involved in the journey itself, the fact that he had to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind..... that she would be left to support their child and possibly never see Enrique again. Enrique suffers beatings, he is robbed, he is deported and humiliated over and over again, and yet, he succeeds..... which would have a negative impact on Enrique himself, but would also prove his strength of spirit.

On the positive side, Enrique finds his mother.... a bittersweet reunion that stirs up his bitterness and resentment and plunges him back into drug and alcohol use (a negative). Eventually, Enrique pulls himself together and brings Maria to the United States (a positive) only to leave their daughter behind.... to abandon her in the same way Enrique was abandoned (negative).