Dionel Martinez Ortega, 48, and his son Darwin Leonel Martinez Morales, 13 are from Chiquimula in Guatemala. They were taken in as part of a large group of Central American migrants at Our Lady of Purification Parish in Dona Ana, New Mexico, where they were given food and shelter and assisted with booking their travel arrangements to their families or friends.
Having worked as an agricultural worker before, he spoke of difficulties in cultivating beans and corn. He had to support a family of five on the small income of 50 Quetzales per day, only on the days when work came.
Thirteen year-old Darwin, who only has completed the second grade, wants the chance to be able to study upon arriving in their destination. He has struggled learning how to read, because there is not a chance for individual attention.
This is the second time Dionel has come to the United State. He was deported 20 years ago. This time, he hired a coyote to get him and his son to the border, paying 30,000 Quetzales or about $4,000. To get this money, he decided to put his home as collateral, and if he doesn’t succeed in making the payments, he may lose it.
Just like many other migrants, leaving his family was difficult for Dionel, “When I left, my child was only 18 months old, but when I came back he was six and a half years old,” he said. He is yet another migrant who spends long parts of their lives away from their loved ones.
Dionel Martínez Ortega, 48, y su hijo Darwin Leonel Martínez Morales, 13, son de Chiquimula en Guatemala. Ellos fueron parte de un grupo grande de centroamericanos recibidos por la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Purificación en Dona Ana, Nuevo México, donde recibieron comida albergue y los ayudaron con las reservaciones para los arreglos de su viaje.
Como trabajador agricultor en un pasado, el hablo de las dificultades del cultivo de frijol y maíz. El tuvo que mantener a su familia de cinco personas en un sueldo pequeño de 50 quetzales por día, y eso solo en los días que había trabajo.
Darwin de trece años, que solo pudo terminar el segundo año, quiere la oportunidad de estudiar en cuanto lleguen a su destino. El a batallado para aprender a leer, porque no había la oportunidad de atención individual.
Esta es la segunda vez que Dionel llega a los Estado Unidos. Él ya había sido deportado hace 20 anos. Esta vez, pago servicios de un coyote para que los llevaran a su hijo y a el a la frontera, pagando 30,000 quetzales que es mas o menos $4,000. Para conseguir el dinero, decidió poner su casa como garantía de pago, y si no logra hacer los pagos, puede perder su casa.
Así como muchos migrantes, fue difícil para Dionel dejar a su familia, “Cuando me fui, mi hijo solo tenia 18 meses de edad, y cuando regrese ya tenía seis años y medio,” dijo él. El, aun es otro migrante, que pasa mucha parte de su vida, lejos de sus seres queridos.
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