Migrant Voices: On Journey Through Mexico, 'You Can't Smile Because There Is No Reason to' Marisa Gerber and Laura Tillman - The Los Angeles Times
go to original February 15, 2016

Migrants from Central American have found it increasingly difficult to cross Mexico to reach the United States. Berfilio Hernandez, 21, from Peten, Guatemala, walks along train tracks in Tultitlan, Mexico, last year. (Sarah McClure/Getty Images)

The Vatican has said that Pope Francis’ journey through Mexico, which takes him from the southern state of Chiapas to the northern border with Texas, symbolically traces the route of migrants trying to reach the United States.

Five Central American migrants attempting that journey reflect on their faith and the pope's visit and explain why they left their homelands. They asked that their last names be withheld because they crossed into Mexico illegally and fear gangs will retaliate against their families back home.

Daniel, 45, Honduras

"I feel happiness, and I feel as if I'm closer to the help that God gives to migrants, because I believe in that, because I believe in the Catholic Church and in God. I have always believed that the pope is a disciple of God on Earth - no, he is the maximum authority of God on Earth - and he's also a disciple of God, a missionary of love and peace."

Janet, 33, Honduras

“If the pope comes to talk about [immigration], well, how lovely.... That way people have to see that we don’t emigrate because we want to… [but] because we need to, you know? Like in my case, I come escaping a gang, because they have killed my three loved ones. The two fathers of my children and now my sister. That hurts – it hurts a lot. And it hurts to know that the gangs are becoming empowered in our country. [In] El Salvador and Honduras [with] the gangs, only a little is needed for them to be president.”

David, 34, Nicaragua

“There are many Mexican people, most of the people are Mexican, and some of them will help and give you a little food, or something, water, because you are walking or taking the train and you're walking very long distances. Sometimes you don't have water and when you get to a town you have to ask for help from your Mexican brother for a little food or some water. Because we don't have water. We come on foot. We come completely in God's hands.”

Javier, 27, Honduras

"For my part, I think that in this situation, if [the pope] is a great figure and he's going to talk with presidents or people who are really important in society, what he needs to do is explain to them in an interesting way, getting a lot of answers about immigration, because immigration is a big issue. The [Mexican] president knows the law [cracking down on Central American migrants] that was put into effect last year. He has to know the situation. Why did he think he should create this law? Because now we are taking a route that's very difficult."

Norma, 36, El Salvador

“The truth is that I never get tired of saying, 'God is good.' He’s marvelous - he’s been marvelous in my life. To this day, I have never lacked a roof, food, clothing. And maybe I didn’t achieve my dream [of getting to the U.S.], but I am out of danger.”

Read the rest at The Los Angeles Times

Related: Author Colm Tóibín Tells Audience That “Every Migrant Has a Story to Tell” (RTE)

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