“It goes to show how Americans take life for granted. There are so many kids struggling to get here from poor homes. We don’t realize how lucky we have it,” expressed Daniel Luquin, architect major, about Sonia Nazario’s story.
Sonia Nazario came to the Teleconference Center on March 23.
“I read her series in the LA Times. I figured since she is a leader in journalism, it would be a good idea to bring her here for Women’s History Month,” said Diane Keenan, head of the Woman’s Study Program.
She wrote “Enrique’s Journey,” a tale about a boy’s rigorous journey from Honduras to the United States to be reunited with his mother who left him to come to the United States to get a better life for the both of them.
“I was inspired to do this story from my house cleaner who left four kids behind. I wondered how it’s possible for a mother to leave her children. But after seeing the area some of these woman had to go through, I finally understood,” Nazario said.
Even though Nazario did not join Enrique in his journey, she managed to travel from Honduras to the United States border in a similar manner Enrique did.
Nazario explained she had to travel on top of the roof of trains and interviewed some of the migrants that came along her journey.
Some of these migrants were as young as 12, if not younger, doing their best survive.
Nazario shared the many dangers she had to witness.
She described how if jumping on the train doesn’t kill the migrants, gangs such as the MSK or corrupt police will.
“The trail is harder than crossing the border. Police in Central America will sometimes line the migrants, take whatever clothes and little money they have, and deport them,” said Nazario.
Nazario also detailed how if not were the guards and their AK47s, she probably would have been raped or murdered.
Nazario clarified that it did not stop gangs members from stabbing other migrants in front her and throwing off of the train.
“What I went through is only a small percent what Enrique and others have to go through,” Nazario said.
Nevertheless, Nazario explained that there were some kind people along the journey.
After traveling the state of Chiapas, the train reached Veracruz where the migrants can catch a glimpse of hope.
Nazario said she witnessed people handing the migrants food, water and a prayer for a safer journey.
“The people of Veracruz helped these migrants because it the was Christian thing to do,” she said.
Nazario was touched by the kindness of these people since they barely had enough food for themselves.
“I did my best to humanize people like Enrique and other migrants. Many immigrants didn’t even want to leave their homes. But, sometimes people need to take drastic measures to feed themselves and their children even if it is illegal. If society wants to end illegal immigration, the best way to do it is at its source,” Nazario shared.
