By Among the thousands of migrants attempting to make the treacherous journey from Mexico to the United States, a 14-year-old boy from Venezuela named Edgar Fonseca Cepeda stands out. What makes his case particularly alarming is that he is unaccompanied, like many others leaving their families and communities behind in search of a better life in the U.S.
Edgar’s journey began in Venezuela, where he traveled to Colombia after his grandmother, who had been caring for him, passed away. Now, he is trying to reach his mother, who lives in Washington D.C., and has undertaken this dangerous journey alone.
The migrants’ journey typically starts at the Usumacinta River between Guatemala and Mexico, where they cross on makeshift rafts before forming into groups known as “caravans” for safety. In recent years, the demographics of the migrants have shifted, with people coming from countries all over the world, including China, Egypt, Jordan, and Somalia, in addition to those from Southern and Central America.
Edgar’s journey has been fraught with danger. He revealed to his mother during a heartbreaking video call that he, along with another group of migrants, had been kidnapped by a gang and held in a chicken coop for 8-10 hours, only to be released after fellow travelers scrambled together $75.
As the migrants make their way through Mexico, they face numerous challenges, including constantly changing immigration rules that make their journey bureaucratic, confusing, and often contradictory. Mexican authorities have been shifting migrants from one location to another, making it difficult for them to make progress.
Another migrant is Mayra Ferrerr, a 40-year-old from Venezuela who is traveling with her two sons and fellow Venezuelans. Mayra has breast cancer and is risking everything to get to her family in the U.S. for treatment. She has stopped taking her chemotherapy pills to avoid being too weak during the journey.
The migrants’ difficulties continue even after they manage to progress further north. Mayra and her friends reported being robbed at gunpoint while on a bus heading towards their destination.
Despite the countless obstacles and dangers they face, the migrants refuse to accept defeat, driven by their dreams of a better life in the United States. However, their mammoth journeys are far from over, and the challenges they encounter serve as a stark reminder of the desperate circumstances that compel them to undertake such perilous journeys in the first place.
A SkyNews story
