THE JOURNEY
LOOKING FOR A COYOTE
As Quique and his friends headed north out of
Mexico City, the trains got faster. But this time
only three of them were on their way north.
Chacon, the father with six kids had been left
behind. He was rushing to hop onto a train and
was a few seconds too late. (Find out what happened
to Chacon)
Quique:
As we jumped on the train accelerated so no one
else could get on. Chacon was left behind saying
'what do I do now?' We kept on saying, 'don't
give up, we'll meet up north.'
They reached Villa de Reyes, a town close to the
American border. But they needed professional
help - a coyote or smuggler - to get across. There
were lots for hire - but the boys needed some
money.
Sonya Nazario:
So many migrants will call a relative in the U.S.
and tell them, 'well I've made it all this way,
surely you can somehow scrounge together the two
thousand dollars that it takes to get me into Texas
or into California.'
Quique, Eber and Daniel spend three weeks doing
odd jobs in town to earn enough money for a place
to stay and for phone cards so they could their
relatives call for help.
After much begging and pleading
Quique's relatives finally agreed to put up the
money. Quique lined up a coyote that would take
him all the way to Houston by truck for two thousand
dollars. He would be paid when Quique was safely
delivered into the U.S.
But Daniel wasn't included. Even though he made
it all the way to the U.S. border there was no one
to put up the money for him. (read what happened
to Daniel)
Quique:
The four of us left together from the same neighbourhood.
When you go on the road with them, you become brothers.
You share everything. It's hard to leave someone
behind.
