Mennonite Central Committee

David tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border five times.

During the first crossing, I stayed in Mexico for two weeks. The coyotes were dishonest and would not help us until we had a group of about 30 people.

I was caught four times. There were groups of immigrants, Border Patrol officers, and dogs. Some escaped – you have to be strong and faster than the dogs.

The fifth time was my last attempt. There were 25 of us. It was about 10pm and I saw lights flashing at us. We thought it was immigration. Only four of us escaped with the coyote. We hid until early morning. A truck picked us up and it took two hours to get to Texas. We were dropped off at a house in Texas.

I paid the coyote $12,500. The coyotes run a “chain” or “company”.

David flew from Bolivia to Nicaragua, where a coyote brought him to Mexico. In Mexico, David had another coyote.

It is sad that people go into debt. Sometimes they die. If a man dies along the way, his wife is left with the debt.

If the U.S. government would give us a work permit, this wouldn’t be happening. I’m not looking to become a U.S. citizen. I just want to work temporarily. I don’t think of spending my life here.

Immigrants contribute to the country. But they (Border Patrol) put us in handcuffs, and treated us like terrorists. We’re working to survive; we’re not doing anything wrong.

But God is great.

Every person has the right to bread. It doesn’t matter what your nationality is. We all come into the world with a purpose. We all want to survive.

When Border Patrol officers grab you, when we are being abused, God sees it all. He will respond with justice.

There is a deeper reason for why we come to the United States. We walk through the desert to help our families eat. There is a reason why a man leaves his family, there is a need for survival and there is obligation. I am here not because I want to be here. I need to be here. I have to make the sacrifices so my wife and daughters have enough to eat.

I ask Congress to put their hand on their heart and ask why are [migrants] coming? We need a way to create jobs in our countries. Our goal is not to break laws, people are multiplying but there are not enough jobs. The laws must change.

I’ve been in the United States for 3 years, and have just enough to sustain my family. I’m not getting rich here. Congress shouldn’t think that we’re taking money out of the United States.

I ask myself, “What have I really done?” I have no documents, sometimes I don’t work for 2 weeks, sometimes for 2 months. The little I earn, I send back to my family.