Mennonite Central Committee

I crossed the border four years ago, but I can remember exactly what happened. We spent four nights in the desert. The first night was especially difficult. We were attacked and robbed by thieves on the Mexico side of the border, and I thought we would die. Most of us did not have many things.

There were 28 of us. We had to carry water and food. One woman in her 50s could not make it, so we left her.

I paid $5,000 to the coyote to bring me to Phoenix, Arizona. My husband was there before me. The bank in Guatemala gave me a loan to pay the coyote.

We all have stories. But many of us come because we need work.