Current Magazine

THE D.C.-BASED SOCIAL VENTURE, UBELONG went on a 10-
day trip to help humanize the immigration debate through
citizen photojournalism. Led by New York Times Photojournalist
Lonnie Schlein, they conducted the fieldwork in three
communities about two hours away from Merida, the state
capital: Cenotillo, Hoctun and Tunkas. In the past 15 years,
these three rural communities, classified by the Mexican Government
as “highly marginalized,” have lost a significant percentage
of their population to the United States.
MIGUEL “EL HUERITO,” 70 (left), returned to his village after
spending 10 years in California. “They gave me a job the first
day I arrived in the United States. I sent money to my wife every
fortnight. She bought land and began to build our house.
One day she told me, ‘The work is finished. Whenever you
are ready to return, you will be coming to your own home.’”
ANANIAS, 40 (right), and his son at their home in Cenotillo.
“I know there is the potential to make lots of money in the
United States. But my experience as immigrant included lots
of partying, drugs, and even time in prison, so I also know
that you run the risk of paying a very high price. If I ever go
back, I would do it legally and live the American dream the
right way.”
56 CURRENT FALL 2017