Current Magazine

JUAN, 72 (left), telling the story of how he crossed the border.
“I ran and ran and ran, and I fell down and continued
running; they almost caught me several times but I continued
running because I was thinking of my family. I had to
reach the United States, and I had to make enough money
to feed my people. You cannot maintain a family here in
Mexico.”
CANDIDO, 81 (right), worked intermittently for a decade in
California as a “bracero”, over 40 years ago. “Times have
changed. Crossing the border has always been very difficult
but it’s even tougher today. And the worst thing about
it all is that you don’t even know if you can get a job. It’s
taking a risk for a life that may be unachievable. I would tell
young people not go.”
CELIA, 44 (left), and her daughter KARIME, 26, have parallel
lives. Both married husbands who left for the United States
shortly after marrying them. Karime summarizes a common
feeling among women in her hometown: “When our husbands
leave we all have hopes that they will return soon. But
almost nobody comes back home. My husband left in search
of the American dream, and on the way he lost his family and
I lost mine.”
CLARA AND WENDY (right), the mother and the wife of Steve
— a Hoctun native who migrated to the United States 12
years ago — showing family photos. “We are two women
waiting for the same man. We pray every day that he comes
back soon.”
58 CURRENT FALL 2017