By: Orsy
This is history is about immigration and is narrated by Carlos Palacios
June 26, 2003 was a Monday morning from his home city La Libertad – El Salvador. At 4 o'clock in the morning Carlos Palacios decided to travel to the United States. This was a tough decision because he was only 16 years old and did not know how he could go on the road alone because he was a minor. The journey began in the city of San Salvador. For many hours Carlos walked with other people who were also coming to the U.S. they were walking across the bridge from El Salvador to Guatemala. When they arrived at the station Guatemala they had to catch the bus to the border between Mexico and Guatemala.
He came to the border city of Mexico called Chapas. Here it began to be hard, and he had to flee immigration officials. He had to wait at the train station all night, but there was no train that day. The next day for the train until 8 pm, As soon as the train appeared there were robbers. They took out their machetes and said, “Give me all your money”. At that time Carlos had only 50 pesos and they were stolen. After that he was beaten up, and they left him lying on the railway line. After many days of waiting, the train arrived. People called the train “the beast”. Carlos asked why the train is called like that. Some of his friends who had gathered answered the question. It is really hell to come on the trains. You must endure cold and hunger and sleepless days and nights. Some people cannot resist sleep,and fall to their death. from 1 am to 10 am the train stopped at the station. More than 250 people boarded the train. Some of them were friends from Honduras and El Salvador.
At around one o'clock the train started to move. There was a boy of 15 years who could not get on the train car. Unfortunately we lost his life there. After that, Carlos thought he needed to be more careful because it was too dangerous to come in these cars. We remained in the train for 2 days until we came to a place called Ixtepec. There Federal Mexican police waiting for all immigrants, Carlos jumped from the train. there was a federal police that followed Carlos for 5 minutes. He had to run very fast. Carlos suddenly saw a river and thought it was the best idea to jump into the river. He had to cross the river. After 5 hours he decided to return to the train lines, So he crossed the river again. The next day they said they could not get the train for up to 15 days. So his friends decided to walk. Within two days of walking they were very hungry, sleepy and very tired. They arrived at a place called Veracruz. Luckily there they came to a Catholic church that supported the immigrants and gave food, bed rest.
In Veracruz Carlos had 6 friends with him. They decided to travel to City DF, Carlos arrived at 3 PM. There were many federal police waiting for. Fortunately, Carlos managed to escape after hiding in some trees for 7 hours. Then he had to go for food. Some people gave him food and others did not give him anything. Carlos returned to the place where he hid from the police. At 1 am came the train to Guadalajara. Carlos then realized why it was called the Beast. The train was going about 45 miles per hour when he tried to catch it. The train threw him about 6 meters. He was not prepared to catch the train because he was too sleepy. he again stood up and attempted to catch the train. This time he got on the train. He felt a lot of pain from being thrown by the train the first time. He came to the city of Guadalajara where he had family members. He called an uncle who lives in Tlaquepaque. He stayed with the uncle for 5 months. He decided to travel to the United States - Mexico border. It took 8 days to reach the border.
Carlos contracted with someone bring him to the United States and cross the Arizona desert. This person took Carlos to the United States. After 2 days he called the brothers of Carlos because Carlos had to pay $ 3000 dollars.
The person led him to Los Angeles. There he met his brother Victor. Carlos had not seen Victor in 10 years. Carlos was very exited. Then Carlos moved to San Francisco, a beautiful city, where he lives with his family.
This is history is about immigration and is narrated by Carlos Palacios
June 26, 2003 was a Monday morning from his home city La Libertad – El Salvador. At 4 o'clock in the morning Carlos Palacios decided to travel to the United States. This was a tough decision because he was only 16 years old and did not know how he could go on the road alone because he was a minor. The journey began in the city of San Salvador. For many hours Carlos walked with other people who were also coming to the U.S. they were walking across the bridge from El Salvador to Guatemala. When they arrived at the station Guatemala they had to catch the bus to the border between Mexico and Guatemala.
He came to the border city of Mexico called Chapas. Here it began to be hard, and he had to flee immigration officials. He had to wait at the train station all night, but there was no train that day. The next day for the train until 8 pm, As soon as the train appeared there were robbers. They took out their machetes and said, “Give me all your money”. At that time Carlos had only 50 pesos and they were stolen. After that he was beaten up, and they left him lying on the railway line. After many days of waiting, the train arrived. People called the train “the beast”. Carlos asked why the train is called like that. Some of his friends who had gathered answered the question. It is really hell to come on the trains. You must endure cold and hunger and sleepless days and nights. Some people cannot resist sleep,and fall to their death. from 1 am to 10 am the train stopped at the station. More than 250 people boarded the train. Some of them were friends from Honduras and El Salvador.
At around one o'clock the train started to move. There was a boy of 15 years who could not get on the train car. Unfortunately we lost his life there. After that, Carlos thought he needed to be more careful because it was too dangerous to come in these cars. We remained in the train for 2 days until we came to a place called Ixtepec. There Federal Mexican police waiting for all immigrants, Carlos jumped from the train. there was a federal police that followed Carlos for 5 minutes. He had to run very fast. Carlos suddenly saw a river and thought it was the best idea to jump into the river. He had to cross the river. After 5 hours he decided to return to the train lines, So he crossed the river again. The next day they said they could not get the train for up to 15 days. So his friends decided to walk. Within two days of walking they were very hungry, sleepy and very tired. They arrived at a place called Veracruz. Luckily there they came to a Catholic church that supported the immigrants and gave food, bed rest.
In Veracruz Carlos had 6 friends with him. They decided to travel to City DF, Carlos arrived at 3 PM. There were many federal police waiting for. Fortunately, Carlos managed to escape after hiding in some trees for 7 hours. Then he had to go for food. Some people gave him food and others did not give him anything. Carlos returned to the place where he hid from the police. At 1 am came the train to Guadalajara. Carlos then realized why it was called the Beast. The train was going about 45 miles per hour when he tried to catch it. The train threw him about 6 meters. He was not prepared to catch the train because he was too sleepy. he again stood up and attempted to catch the train. This time he got on the train. He felt a lot of pain from being thrown by the train the first time. He came to the city of Guadalajara where he had family members. He called an uncle who lives in Tlaquepaque. He stayed with the uncle for 5 months. He decided to travel to the United States - Mexico border. It took 8 days to reach the border.
Carlos contracted with someone bring him to the United States and cross the Arizona desert. This person took Carlos to the United States. After 2 days he called the brothers of Carlos because Carlos had to pay $ 3000 dollars.
The person led him to Los Angeles. There he met his brother Victor. Carlos had not seen Victor in 10 years. Carlos was very exited. Then Carlos moved to San Francisco, a beautiful city, where he lives with his family.
