Angel Velsain, 33, and his son Kelvin, 14, are from Union Cantinil in the Huehuetenango Department of Guatemala. Angel worked in construction in Guatemala, where he earned a pittance that did not allow him to provide for his family. “It was never enough to support my family,” he said, “I have four kids.”
14 year-old Kelvin, like many of the other kids coming from Central America, wants the chance to go to school in the United States. “There were about 40 of us,” he said about the class size at his school, noting that there were very few teachers available for a large number of students.
Angel would like to have his wife and other kids come to the United States if he could. “It is hard to leave the family,” he said, “It is a little sad, but it is necessary.”
Arriving to the US-Mexico border was no easy task. Angel paid a coyote 20,000 Quetzales to get him and Kelvin to the border. The trip was long and hard. “We only ate a little bit of food because we were traveling in buses that were direct trips, so we didn’t stop at any stores to buy something to eat.”
Angel wouldn’t have taken this trip for no reason. He, like all the other Guatemalans, is trying the best he can to give his loved ones a safer life. “More than anything, you have to think about your family,” he said.
After staying a night in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Las Cruces, the two would head to Denver where his uncle would receive him. He hopes to have the chance to work in construction in Denver, however, he is open to anything.
Angel Velsain, 33, y su hijo Kelvin, 14, son de la Unión Cantinil en el Departamento de Huehuetenango en Guatemala. Ángel trabaja en la construcción en Guatemala, donde ganaba una miseria que no suplía para mantener a su familia. “Nunca tenia lo suficiente para mantener a mi familia,” dijo el, “Tengo cuatro hijos.”
Kelvin de 14 años, como muchos otros niños viniendo de Centro América, quiere una oportunidad para ir a la escuela en los Estados Unidos. “Éramos más o menos 40 todos juntos,” dice el, sobre el tamaño de la clase en su escuela, comentando que no había suficientes maestras para la gran cantidad de estudiantes.
A Ángel le gustaría que su esposa y sus hijos vinieran a Estados Unidos si se pudiera. “Es difícil dejar la familia,” dijo el, “Es poco triste, pero es necesario.”
La llegada a la frontera de México con Estados Unidos no fue tarea fácil. Ángel le pago a un coyote 20,000 Quetzales para traer a Kelvin y a él, a la frontera. El viaje fue largo y difícil. “Comíamos poco porque viajamos en autobús que eran directos, y no podíamos llegar a una tienda a comprar algo de comer.
Ángel no hubiera hecho este viaje sin razón. El, como todos los guatemaltecos, intentan todo lo posible por darles a sus seres queridas una vida segura. “Más que todo, tienes que pensar en tu familia.” Dijo él.
Después de haber pasado una noche en la Catedral del Inmaculado Corazón de María en Las Cruces, los dos se dirigen a Denver donde su tío los espera. Espera la oportunidad de trabajar en construcción en Denver, sin embargo, está dispuesto a trabajar en lo que sea.
The Faces of Immigration Project is a 40 Day photo journal series used to highlight the stories of all Immigrants. The project is meant to shed light on some of the many reasons people have for immigrating to the U.S. Statements and stories have been edited for content, clarity, and brevity and may not reflect the entirety of an Immigrant’s reasons for immigrating to the United States.
By Paul Ratje