ODYSSEY OF HOPE
One Family’s Journey in the Migrant Caravan
Jonatan Matamoros, 36 and his wife Sara Artiaga, 31 with their son Jose Miguel Artiaga, 18 months old, from Honduras hitch a ride November 20, 2018 with others from the migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico. They endured the bitter cold wind as they drove through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait with hope of crossing the border to America seeking asylum.
Jonatan Matamoros, his wife Sara Artiaga and their son Jose Miguel are one family of thousands making a desperate journey to the border. They endured the bitter cold wind as they drove through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait with hope of crossing the border to America seeking asylum. They started October 12 on their journey with a large caravan. Thousands of desperate people made the long journey and the situation at the border is being called a humanitarian crisis. They said they swam across the river, walking and hitchhiking through Mexico. "We suffered, were hungry. No one told us the risks," said Jonatan. They arrived in Tijuana the day before America celebrates Thanksgiving holiday. They were tired but happy to reach the Centro Deportivo Benito Juarez shelter as a family. After reaching the Tijuana-San Diego border near Playas de Tijuana on December 9, 2018, they along with about a dozen others walked through the darkness to a possible site to cross. Eventually after a long night in the bitter cold, lying on rocks and hiding from helicopters, they reached the border but were afraid to crawl over since a Customs and Border Protection vehicle was parked on the other side. The women and children had planned to be detained but Jonatan thought he could run fast enough to escape past agents.
Toddler Jose Miguel has wrist bands put on at the shelter Centro Deportivo Benito Juarez. They hitched a ride November 20, 2018 with others from migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico then traveled to Tijuana.
Matamoros sleeps on the bus headed to the Tijuana-San Diego border near Playas de Tijuana on December 9, 2018. Behind him his wife keeps watch.
Matamoros climbs the border fence at La Playas de Tijuana Mexico on December 8, 2018.
Jonatan took buses from Barretal shelter for migrant caravan Central Americans to the border fence to look for possible places to cross to the U.S. eventually with his wife and child. He was having fun at Playas de Tijuana border, looking towards San Diego, so close yet so far. He said he could climb fence so his friend dared him and he quickly scaled it. He could have gone over as Customs and Border Protection agents were not on the U.S. side at the time, but his wife and child were at waiting at the shelter.
At dawn on December 10, 2018 the family give up on crossing the Tijuana-San Diego border near Playas de Tijuana.As they walked away from their dreams, Sara said with despair "I'm going back to my home Honduras, it's too dangerous here."
Matamoros, Artiaga and their son wait at the border.
Matamoros is frustrated as he checks possible places to cross border at La Playas de Tijuana Mexico on December 8, 2018. He looks past construction to border wall leading to San Diego.
Giving up on crossing the Tijuana-San Diego border near Playas de Tijuana, Matamoros carries his son Jose Miguel as the family walks away at dawn on December 10, 2018.
EPILOGUE: Though discouraged the family planned to try again later after hoping to get papers to prove they were married since they knew they would be separated in U.S. but made an apparently spontaneous decision to cross with others to be detained on U.S. soil Sunday December 16, 2018 when they heard Mexican police were not arresting the migrants fleeing. They were seen crossing by a photojournalist that said they looked quite sad, possibly realizing their chances of gaining asylum were slim and hopes for a future in America would most likely result in deportation to the county they spent so many months fleeing.
Children of the Caravan
Newly released Central American asylum seekers including many children brought from detainment centers are dropped off at Central bus station on June 29, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. Many parents wore ankle bracelets. They are met by a volunteer and walk to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) with the help of the Sacred Heart Church which serves as a humanitarian respite center after migrants are processed and released. They are given food, clothes, shoelaces which were taken from them, medical attention and welcoming warmth.
Ingrid Perdomo, 18 and her 1-year-old son Jose Luis with other asylum seekers sleep on Gateway International bridge waiting to cross into U.S. from Mexico side on July 2, 2018 in Matamoros Mexico. She came with her companion Luis Miguel, 32 from Honduras where they made the difficult 3 month journey. He said he fled in fear and cries a lot with anxiety about his past. He said his ex-wife started dating a gang member and the gang torched his home killing his 2 children inside. He fled to mountains seeking safety where he met Ingrid and they had another child. When they first arrived they said they were told by border guards they would not get in until their child was an adult, possibly as a deterrent then went to stay with a cousin in Mexico for a few days but had kidnap threats and returned to bridge July 1. They were eventually allowed in late on July 2 to be processed for credible fear. If not for a small humanitarian group Asociacion Civil Ayudandoles a Triunfar a.c. run by Glady Canas from Mexico they would have not had blankets to sleep on, food, water, etc.
A family lives in tent at Benito Juarez migrant shelter on November 28, 2018 in Tijuana Mexico. Thousands from the migrant caravan are living in limbo in Tijuana in the shadow of the U.S. border. It has been called a humanitarian crisis.
Many children are among asylum seekers that navigate severe flooding at the migrant caravan camp Centro Deportivo Benito Juarez on November 29, 2018. It is being called a humanitarian crisis. "We lost everything," said a migrant walking through debris. Many appeared to realize that the hope they held to begin a new life in America had dimmed and their stay in Mexico may be longer than anticipated.
A protest left Benito Juarez shelter for migrant caravan Central Americans on November 22, 2018 crossing bridge to Tijuana-San Diego border crossing but were held back by Mexican police in riot gear. Eventually as migrants rallied in the plaza, children played at the police line.
American Dream
A migrant woman looks through the border fence at La Playas de Tijuana Mexico on December 1, 2018. She was staying at a nearby shelter for migrant caravan Central Americans and came to look for possible places at the border to cross to the U.S.
Migrants from Central America start their trek on November 20, 2018 with others from migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico then traveled to Tijuana. Many hitched rides along the way, especially through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait in hopes of crossing the border to America.They arrived in Tijuana the day before America celebrates Thanksgiving holiday.
Some people climb over train to reach park where they decided to meet. Migrants from Central America start their trek on November 20, 2018 with others from migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico then traveled to Tijuana. Many hitched rides along the way, especially through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait in hopes of crossing the border to America.They arrived in Tijuana the day before America celebrates Thanksgiving holiday.
Angel Leonardo Arrecis Luna from Guatemala takes a break. Migrants from Central America start their trek on November 20, 2018 with others from migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico then traveled to Tijuana. Many hitched rides along the way, especially through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait in hopes of crossing the border to America. They arrived in Tijuana the day before America celebrates Thanksgiving holiday.
Migrants from Central America start their trek on November 20, 2018 with others from migrant caravan that had stopped to rest in Mexicali, Mexico then traveled to Tijuana. Many hitched rides along the way, especially through La Rumorosa mountain road to a shelter in Tijuana where they will wait in hopes of crossing the border to America.They arrived in Tijuana the day before America celebrates Thanksgiving holiday.
A girl jumps over flooded area of Benito Juarez migrant shelter on November 28, 2018. Thousands from the migrant caravan are living in limbo in Tijuana in the shadow of the U.S. border. It has been called a humanitarian crisis.
Crossing the almost dry Tijuana river. Migrant caravan from camp Centro Deportivo Benito Juarez marches to the Tijuana-San Diego border on November 25, 2018. They were met by a line of Mexican police in riot gear at the bridge but managed to run past them, climbing up steep walls, crossing the Rio Tijuana and difficult terrain, reaching the border but were met at times by tear gas from U.S. agents when they tried to climb over fence and were pleading to be let in. Eventually Mexican police moved the crowd, including many women and children back to the shelter.
Migrants from caravan cross Tijuana-San Diego border at La Playa on December 2, 2018. Dozens of mostly women and children squeezed through fence on the beach or climbed over wall at low point passing children over. All were detained after entering the U.S. Border patrol agents at one point allowed only women and kids to climb over, then falsely blamed media for making it happen. An agent on the beach watched as a woman and child squeezed through breach in fence, saying "You're kidding me, right? You've got to be kidding me," as she crawled through in front of him. Most migrants knew they would be immediately detained but preferred that to the limbo of living indefinitely in shelters in Mexico, believing at least their asylum cases would be heard.
Central American migrants from caravan breach the Tijuana-San Diego border at La Playa on December 3, 2018. Women and children crossed most easily into the hands of Customs and Border Protection agents to be detained and seek asylum.
Migrants from caravan cross Tijuana-San Diego border at La Playa on December 2, 2018. Dozens of mostly women and children squeezed through fence on the beach or climbed over wall at low point passing children over. All were detained after entering the U.S. Border patrol agents at one point allowed only women and kids to climb over, then falsely blamed media for making it happen. An agent on the beach watched as a woman and child squeezed through breach in fence, saying "You're kidding me, right? You've got to be kidding me," as she crawled through in front of him. Most migrants knew they would be immediately detained but preferred that to the limbo of living indefinitely in shelters in Mexico, believing at least their asylum cases would be heard.