Ivan Gutierrez, 44, and his son Angel Ivan Gutierrez Mejia, 9, are from the Department of Cortes in Honduras. He has left behind 3 children, a son of 25 years of age and two daughters. Unfortunately due to the economy and the lack of money, he was unable to bring them with him.
In his country of origin, Ivan worked in the welding industry, building metal structures and metal frames and mainly in construction. “There is no jobs for people who are 25 or 30 years old, there is no longer work for us,” he said about his economic situation. Apart from the low economy is the high delinquency and the crime. “They want to force our children into that, they take them to make them just like them, for the children it’s an obligation,” he said explaining his decision in leaving his country with his son Angel.
Ivan came on his own with no help of a guide or a “coyote”. He, along with friends from his home town, decided to leave with a group of people, to reach the border. “It has been 25 days until now, that I have been in Mexico,” he said. A few people that were part of his group decided to stay behind and did not continue their journey with Ivan and the rest of the group. Later, they found out, that they had been kidnapped at the border in Laredo and United States. “They were kidnapped for four days,” he said.
Ivan’s wish is to arrive at North Carolina with his family and friends. “I want to have hope for the future of our children, since we don’t have that in our country,” he said.
Iván Gutiérrez, 44, y su hijo Ángel Iván Gutiérrez Mejía, 9, son del Departamento de Cortés en Honduras. Él ha dejado atrás a sus 3 hijos, uno de 25 años y a dos hijas. Desafortunadamente a causa de la economía y falta de dinero, no pudo traerlos con él.
En su país de origen, Iván trabajaba en la industria de la soldadura, haciendo estructuras metálicas, y armazones de metal, que es parte de la construcción. “Para personas de 25 o 30 años no hay trabajos, ya para uno no hay trabajo,” dijo él hablando de su estado económico. A parte de la baja economía, está la alta delincuencia y la violencia. “Quieren meter a los niños a fuerzas a eso, y se los llevan para hacerlos como ellos, es obligatorio para los niños,” dijo él explicando su decisión de salir de su país con su hijo Ángel.
Iván se vino solo y sin ayuda de un guía o un “coyote”. El juntamente con unas personas conocidas de su pueblo decidieron salir con un grupo de gente hasta llegar a la frontera. “Ya son 25 días hasta hoy que estoy en México,” dijo él. Algunas personas que venían en su grupo se quedaron atrás, y no siguieron su viaje con Iván y los demás. Después se dieron cuenta que habían sido secuestrados en la frontera de Laredo y Estado Unidos. “Estuvieron secuestrados cuatro días,” dijo él.
Iván desea llegar a Carolina del Norte con sus familiares y sus amigos. “Yo quiero una esperanza para el futuro de nuestros hijos, ya que en nuestro país no se puede,” dijo él.
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