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One
of Many Days
Many people
risk their lives, or those of their loved ones to try to achieve
the American dream by coming to the US illegally. Thank god
that I had the opportunity to come to the US legally and then
become a permanent resident without risk or suffering.
Nowadays, many tragedies overcome our compatriots when they
try to enter the US illegally. Yet, these tragedies reoccur
without anyone trying to do something about them our without
people becoming conscious of the risks that these odysseys
represent. Many people search uncertain future, since they
do not know if they will be returned to their place of origin,
if they will perish on their way, or they will reach their
goals.
People have their own personal and valid reasons to come and
look for a better future for themselves or their loved ones.
There are a few stories of triumph, happiness and joy, and
endless stories of pain and suffering like the one of Jose
and Pablo, uncle and nephew. José is dead, and Pablo,
my husband’s coworker, relates this story.
One warm Summer morning in the Tecate border, Baja California,
a group of people (and I call them people, instead of illegals,
since we are so used to the term to refer to any human being
who wishes to come to the US with no papers, without realizing
that they are human beings just like any of us) among them
Jose and Pablo, originally from Michoacan, Mexico, and dreaming
of a better life, started this adventure walking through the
hot mountains of the region. They thought that they would
arrive by noon of that same morning to the city of San Diego,
California.
They were all nervous, but they were happy that they had successfully
crossed all those mountains without being caught by the “migra”.
Tired and thirsty, they stopped to rest. They would look at
each other smiling nervously but would not talk, since, with
exception of José and Pablo, the rest in the group
did not know each other. They only knew the “pollero”,
to whom they would pay a fee upon arriving to the US.
They were all sitting when, suddenly, two of the travelers,
guns in hand and without hesitation, got up in front of them
screaming: “Everybody to the ground or we will kill
you right here!”
Everybody in disbelief of what was happening had no choice
but to raise their hands and the women started to cry.
“Quiet! Everyone, give us your money, your belongings,
and your shoes!” insisted the thieves while the travelers
gave them their few possessions quickly.
They all obeyed, but one of them, José, only had five
dollars that he offered to the thieves. One of these thieves
was so upset because, to him, that money was very little that
he told José, who was looking at the thief with great
fear and humility: “Do you think that I walked this
distance for this amount of money?”
There was a moment of silence and fear. The thief pushed José
to the floor telling him to get face down, and without much
trouble and in front of everyone, he shot José in the
head.
After such a surprising and horrible act, the two delinquents
left the place leaving behind the poor people in shock and
crying. Pablo had to leave behind the body of his uncle because
there was not time to stop the trajectory. With pain, suffering
and fear, the travelers continue their journey on foot until
they reached the city, leaving behind a human being that was
killed for not having money, which was the reason for José
starting the trip in the first place, leaving behind his family,
his town, and his roots, in search of a better future for
himself and his people.
Just like José, many die in the attempt to cross, some,
under similar circumstances, and others because cold, hunger,
thirst, heat stroke, or because they drown, since, every day,
it gets more difficult to cross the border illegally.
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Story by: María Lourdes Rangel de Aguirre
Translated by: Andres Muro
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