Faces of Immigration

Face of Immigration 37 of 40

Silvia Perez, 41, and her son Gabiel Alvarez Perez, come from Colonia Monte de Olivo, Department of Chimaltenango in Guatemala. Silvia leaves behind her husband and two children, whom are over age. Silvia traveled with her son alone, from Guatemala to the Federal District in Mexico, there she joined a group or a “caravan” that was from Guatemala. “Traveling alone is very hard, but when you join a little group, we encourage ourselves to continue or to ask ‘Can you tell me where we are, or what is this city called?”, she said explaining the advantage of traveling in a group.

The trip through Mexico lasted 15 days since she left her country. “The trip was very difficult because my son did not eat for 8 days, I brought him here with just water and pedialyte,” she said about her son Angels health. “Since one is going thru this situation, our stomach is empty, your body doesn’t accept anything, you just don’t feel like eating,” she said

Silvia did not have a permanent job in her country of origin, so it was difficult to send her son to school. “This year he was supposed to be in seventh grade but i when i went to register him, it was going to be very expensive. The uniform was $1,000 quetzales, the books the same $1,000 quetzales, registration, monthly payments, everything. Like I said, you can’t do it. There is money for food, but for school there isn’t,” she said about the difficulties of sending a child to school in her country.  Typically, you see children of the ages, ranging from 12 through 14 in sixth grade, because the school system is not that great. Much of the lack of job opportunities is due to the bad education system.

Silvia crossed the border and was apprehended by Border Patrol.  They were in detention for two days and one night. Luckily, she was not separated from her son during her apprehension at the detention center. She is traveling to Fresno, California, where her sister in law is waiting for her.  

 

Silvia Perez, 41, y su hijo Gabiel Alvarez Perez, son de la Colonia Monte de Olivo, Departamento de Chimaltenango en Guatemala.  Silvia deja atrás en su país de origen a su esposo y sus dos hijos que ya son mayor de edad. Silvia viajó sola con su hijo de Guatemala al Distrito Federal y allí se unió a un grupo o a la “caravana” que venía de Guatemala. “Viajar solo cuesta bastante, pero ya sigue uno un grupito, y unos a otros se animan o nos da valor para preguntar ‘¿Mire dónde vamos, o aquí que ciudad es?’, dijo ella explicando la ventaja de viajar en grupo.

El viaje por México duró 15 días desde que salió de su país de origen.  “Fue bastante difícil el viaje porque mi hijo no comió por 8 días, solo con agua y suero lo traje hasta aquí,” dijo ella sobre la salud de su hijo Ángel. “Como uno está pasando por esta situación, pues trae uno el estómago vacío, no pasa nada, no llama la atención comer,” dijo ella.

Silvia no tuvo un trabajo fijo en su país de origen, y era difícil para ella mandar a su hijo a la escuela. “Este año le tocaba primer básico, pero fui agregarlo al colegio, pero salía bien caro. El uniforme $1,000 quetzales, libros igual $1,000 quetzales, inscripción, mensualidades, todo. Como le digo, no se puede. Para la comida hay, pero para los estudios ya no hay,” dijo ella hablando sobre las dificultades de mandar a un hijo a la escuela en su país.  Es típico ver a niños de las edades de 12 a 14 años en el sexto año, porque el sistema escolar no es muy bueno. Muchos de los problemas de desempleo es a causa del sistema de educación deficiente.

Silvia cruzó la frontera con su hijo y fue detenida por la patrulla fronteriza.  Estuvo en detención por dos días y una noche. Por suerte no fue separada de su hijo durante su estancia en el centro de detención. Ella se dirige a Fresno, California, donde la espera su cuñada.

 

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

 

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