FIRST POST...
I aim to respectfully present these illegal / undocumented migration tales of crossing the U.S. southern border, told from the subject's own
voices, and will try not to judge subjects nor acts (if such objectivity were possible). I can make no claim about how factual these stories are; there is no way to know for sure which details are embellished or left out… so I will use my best judgment and
will try to stick to "common sense".
These chronicles are not meant to be fiction stories, and I don't intend to publish someone else's fictional accounts. I mean to avoid publishing stories when I think said stories are fantasies.
To protect the privacy of friends who have generously trusted in me, of course their real names will be changed. Also, in the interest of keeping the action moving and the tales short, stories' details may not necessarily be completely complete or factual. Places and dates may be changed if necessary. However, the main points of each story remain as told.These chronicles are not meant to be fiction stories, and I don't intend to publish someone else's fictional accounts. I mean to avoid publishing stories when I think said stories are fantasies.
The author has made no promise to those who chose to tell their stories, other than the promise to allow their story to be told without harm.
I have learned to admire the character and quiet determination of these chronicles' principals, and it is my sincere desire that in reading these stories, others get to meet and understand them too…
ALICIA's STORY, part 1
It’s hard to tell whether Alicia’s
decision to migrate was an act of courage or naiveté. She certainly had no bright she future at home, was
going through marital problems, she certainly wanted to find a way to turn her
life around and feed her five children… but she really had not really thought
about emigrating, and had no concrete foundation to do so. In her world, women
could aspire at most to a maquiladora factory job, sewing for export, jeans,
underwear, shirts, sneakers… men could aspire to Chiquita Banana or Dole’s type
of farming. You know, good jobs with a future and retirement! Alicia had no future, no money, no skills,
no plans. In general, she is not an aggressive type but rather passive, not
determined but hesitant, more of a pessimist than a optimist. Events - or fate-
had conspired to entice her.
Alita, a female friend of moderate
means, had decided to take the trip. Alita’s mom convinced Alicia to accompany
her daughter, gave Alicia a little cash for the trip, and arranged with a local
coyote to be kind enough to make space for Alicia. Alita's family would pay
part of the coyote's fee, and would use their influence or credit to convince
the coyote to accept Alicia, at some kind of reduced rate. Tati, an old friend
now living in the states, encouraged Alicia further by offering to pay part of
the coyote’s fee, and to take Alicia in once she arrived in US. Tati was doing
well, in addition to her hotel cleaning job she sold gold jewelry and brand
clothes to her friends and co-workers. Back home, Alicia’s mom would help and
watch for the kids, raising the grandchildren as she did her own children.
There were no jobs left behind, factory
kind of employment were not Alicia's destiny. As people start announcing
their migration, no one tries to convince you not to go: there is no argument
to be made. Everyone accepts that you must leave if you can, and accepts your
departure sadly, probably wishing it was their departure.
Once the constellations aligned in her favor, Alicia, a most
unlikely candidate to emigrate, the least prepared potential candidate in town, was indeed off
to the USA. She would not see her mom or children again in over 12 years. Her youngest
child, 2 years old, would grow up with only a faint memory of her biological
mother. Her oldest female who always had the closest bond to Alicia, would marry and have two children on Alicia's absence. Her oldest male, about 12 at the time, was left to raise himself, finding room and food at home but nothing else. He would himself make an
unannounced entrance into USA about 10 years later. No one reminded Alicia she might not see them again, it was something left unsaid.
The trip from Central America to
California would take Alicia a few months. Cash funds only lasted a few days. She was really lucky, she explained.
(to be continued)
RELATED VIDEO
"The Less You Know, The Better" - from DJShadow.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?=ploXN6YFweE
Gangs prey on migrants crossing into Mexico - from LatestWorldNewsNet
RELATED READING
BORDER CROSSING DEATHSCHILDREN ESCAPE VIOLENCE
http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/dec/28/more-children-central-america-cross-border/
FACELESS VICTIMS OF BRUTAL DRUG CARTELS
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/08/137647286/brutal-cartels-make-crossing-u-s-border-even-riskier
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