As Adler found in her research, transnational migration has provided people of lower

status, in this case, the Maya and Ladinos of the municipality of San Pedro Pinula, to replicate

patron-client relations by helping "receive" other migrants in the United States (2002). Even so,

the increased price and two-stage payment structure for the journey through Mexico has retained

traditional patron-client relations between Ladino and Maya. Ladino patrons continue to exploit

their workers by "helping" (lending the Quetzales) with the initial payment in Guatemala.

Though the United States does provide the venue for lower status Maya to become patrons,

Maya in San Pedro Pinula still utilize their established Ladino patrons as well out of necessity.

 Maya Migration and Increased Ethnic Divisions

 After Carlos helped initiate the migration of his workers to the United States in the late

1980s, the frequency of Maya migration through the indigenous communities of San Pedro

Pinula increased markedly. Pokomam Maya often prefer migrating to the United States rather

than working for Ladinos, moving to the capital city, or joining the army. The lack of Maya

laborers, and the increased capital (in the form of U.S. dollars) in the hands of the Maya, make

Ladinos uneasy-they see their traditional power over the Maya diminishing as more and more

of the indigenous population migrates to the United States.

 Local discourse emphasizes this continuing Maya-Ladino division. Terms such as Indios

Lamidos, or Indios Perdidos, illustrate how Ladinos feel about Maya returnees whose improved

financial situation causes them to think they are in a better social and whose improved finances

allow them to believe that they are in a better social and cultural position than the familiar social

structure ascribes to them. Indio Lamido traditionally described a Maya who socialized with

Ladinos, but "then begin to think they are just like Ladinos and act like they are something they

are not, and even (Indian men) go as far as wanting to be with Ladina women." Such Mayas

were always tolerated, but never fully accepted, by local society. Indio Perdido literally means