Three - Facing The Beast
61: This is Enrique’s EIGTH attempt to cross the border. He is in Chiapas. 17 years old. He has been gone for
62-63: The best time to cross is foggy and dark – la migra does not work. Facing the beast “la bestia” – a beast kills and maims people; aggressive. He befriends MS gangsters – they sleep in a cemetery.
After several attempts he has learned strategies and tactics to hide, avoid dangers and survive in Chiapas.
64-65: He uses urine to rinse his mouth to heal his broken teeth.
He gets caught in the cemetery. He escapes from jail to catch the train that leaves at 10 am; he goes back to the cemetery.
March 26, 2000 - It has been 24 days since his left.
66-67: A young man is almost mangled by the train – the wind pulls or sucks people under, their limbs are cut off or they are injured in other ways. Highlights the dangers of traveling on the train.
“se lo comio el tren” – personification – the train ate him.
68-69: GETTING ABOARD – there are no women on the train that day, there are 20-30% riders who are 15 or younger. Most of these young travelers can relate to Enrique.
Chiapas – one the most dangerous because of the corrupt police, la migra, gangsters and bandits (thieves).
Boxcars – they are the tallest, flat (lay flat on top, most dangerous bc they have little to hold on to. You can get locked inside the car, people die of asphyxia (suffocate).
- dangerous
- how much people go through to have an opportunity.
- Enrique is willing/determined to endure to see his mom.
70-71: Staying awake – slap, alcohol in eyes, talk about future, amphetamines, sing, jokes….Enrique is kept awake by fear.
People bring along mementos – Bible, family memories, important phone numbers, amulets (saint medallion for protection).
Migrants call train
The Iron Worm -
Train of Death –
The Pilgrims Train – people travel to a new land; exodus – leave.
Iron Horse – power to take him to his mother
72 – 73:
Dangers of travel – branches, guy loses his eye.
DREADED STOP ( La Arrocera)
74-75: La Arrocera is especially dangerous bc
- corrupt police
- half or more caught by la migra
- Enrique is spotted but he jumps and escapes
- isolated; not a lot of places to hide
- madrinas: Mexican slang for a beating – undercover men who commit crimes against migrants; radio ahead to report to la migra.
Hide their money in pants, empty mangoes, mouth, bag and place it in body cavities, walking sticks, etc.
76-77: Bandits threaten migrants not to say anything. Enrique had traveled through here already, this time he is by himself.
78-79: Sexual assault is prevalent in La Arrocera. 1 in 6 girls has been sexually assaulted.
- flatten their breast
- try to pass as boys
- I have AIDS
- cut off hair
Cuil Bridge - he gets by running through.
Stereotype – against Central Americans – poor, ignorant, thieves, dirty, bring prostitution, bring disease, and create job instability.
This makes it challenging to get food or water.
80-81 - DECISION
Maria Isabel is convinced by her mom to say; she may be pregnant and does not want to risk her life.
Her friend might travel alone bc of her decision.
82-83 – STAYING AWAKE
105’ degrees – metal is hot and burning; people try to find shade. strip off clothing to keep cool. They pass by people cooling themselves off in rivers, etc.
Gangsters wear white rosaries to blend in and gain peoples trust. They have weapons, they steal and threaten migrants.
200 street gangsters; 19 groups – each controls a section of the train/coordinated effort.
Police do not arrest/kill migrants.
84-85: If someone speaks up they will be beaten up and threatened.
Enrique was left behind by the gangsters bc he refused participate in retaliation.
86-87: Tie themselves to train so they do not fall off.
Others stretch themselves off the rails bc they believe that snakes will not slither acoss rails and they believe the vibration will wake them. People who do not wake up are hit by the train.
Dangers of the train – boxcars can crush you, decapitate (tunnel), derail.
88-89: Enrique travels through Chiapas.
DEVOURED –
El Tren Devorador – eats them up; destroy – personification.
People fall off the train.
Unclaimed bodies are buried in a common grave.
People losing limbs – legs, arms, head.
90-96: Albergue/Shelter of Jesus the Good Shepard
Olga Sanchez Martinez – was sick and she makes a pact with God to help others if she is cured; she believes God has a plan for everyone. She runs a shelter, buys medical supplies, and food.
She sells clothes, food, etc.
She provides moral support for people who were injured by the train; she gives them hope.
She locates artificial limbs – doctors donate time.
97-98: Wendy is gang raped when attempting to circumvent an immigration checkpoint.
Rape is a weapon to dehumanize people; Dehumanization makes others feel hopeless and as a tool to humiliation.
It is a cultural tool that justifies dehumanization.
98-100: OAXACA
Migrants learn slang, words for things in Mexican Spanish, history and other facts, “orale jefe!” – “whats up?”
-Enrique attempts to blend in by cleaning up and getting a haircut.
* His determination is steeled by everything he has gone through.
61: This is Enrique’s EIGTH attempt to cross the border. He is in Chiapas. 17 years old. He has been gone for
62-63: The best time to cross is foggy and dark – la migra does not work. Facing the beast “la bestia” – a beast kills and maims people; aggressive. He befriends MS gangsters – they sleep in a cemetery.
After several attempts he has learned strategies and tactics to hide, avoid dangers and survive in Chiapas.
64-65: He uses urine to rinse his mouth to heal his broken teeth.
He gets caught in the cemetery. He escapes from jail to catch the train that leaves at 10 am; he goes back to the cemetery.
March 26, 2000 - It has been 24 days since his left.
66-67: A young man is almost mangled by the train – the wind pulls or sucks people under, their limbs are cut off or they are injured in other ways. Highlights the dangers of traveling on the train.
“se lo comio el tren” – personification – the train ate him.
68-69: GETTING ABOARD – there are no women on the train that day, there are 20-30% riders who are 15 or younger. Most of these young travelers can relate to Enrique.
Chiapas – one the most dangerous because of the corrupt police, la migra, gangsters and bandits (thieves).
Boxcars – they are the tallest, flat (lay flat on top, most dangerous bc they have little to hold on to. You can get locked inside the car, people die of asphyxia (suffocate).
- dangerous
- how much people go through to have an opportunity.
- Enrique is willing/determined to endure to see his mom.
70-71: Staying awake – slap, alcohol in eyes, talk about future, amphetamines, sing, jokes….Enrique is kept awake by fear.
People bring along mementos – Bible, family memories, important phone numbers, amulets (saint medallion for protection).
Migrants call train
The Iron Worm -
Train of Death –
The Pilgrims Train – people travel to a new land; exodus – leave.
Iron Horse – power to take him to his mother
72 – 73:
Dangers of travel – branches, guy loses his eye.
DREADED STOP ( La Arrocera)
74-75: La Arrocera is especially dangerous bc
- corrupt police
- half or more caught by la migra
- Enrique is spotted but he jumps and escapes
- isolated; not a lot of places to hide
- madrinas: Mexican slang for a beating – undercover men who commit crimes against migrants; radio ahead to report to la migra.
Hide their money in pants, empty mangoes, mouth, bag and place it in body cavities, walking sticks, etc.
76-77: Bandits threaten migrants not to say anything. Enrique had traveled through here already, this time he is by himself.
78-79: Sexual assault is prevalent in La Arrocera. 1 in 6 girls has been sexually assaulted.
- flatten their breast
- try to pass as boys
- I have AIDS
- cut off hair
Cuil Bridge - he gets by running through.
Stereotype – against Central Americans – poor, ignorant, thieves, dirty, bring prostitution, bring disease, and create job instability.
This makes it challenging to get food or water.
80-81 - DECISION
Maria Isabel is convinced by her mom to say; she may be pregnant and does not want to risk her life.
Her friend might travel alone bc of her decision.
82-83 – STAYING AWAKE
105’ degrees – metal is hot and burning; people try to find shade. strip off clothing to keep cool. They pass by people cooling themselves off in rivers, etc.
Gangsters wear white rosaries to blend in and gain peoples trust. They have weapons, they steal and threaten migrants.
200 street gangsters; 19 groups – each controls a section of the train/coordinated effort.
Police do not arrest/kill migrants.
84-85: If someone speaks up they will be beaten up and threatened.
Enrique was left behind by the gangsters bc he refused participate in retaliation.
86-87: Tie themselves to train so they do not fall off.
Others stretch themselves off the rails bc they believe that snakes will not slither acoss rails and they believe the vibration will wake them. People who do not wake up are hit by the train.
Dangers of the train – boxcars can crush you, decapitate (tunnel), derail.
88-89: Enrique travels through Chiapas.
DEVOURED –
El Tren Devorador – eats them up; destroy – personification.
People fall off the train.
Unclaimed bodies are buried in a common grave.
People losing limbs – legs, arms, head.
90-96: Albergue/Shelter of Jesus the Good Shepard
Olga Sanchez Martinez – was sick and she makes a pact with God to help others if she is cured; she believes God has a plan for everyone. She runs a shelter, buys medical supplies, and food.
She sells clothes, food, etc.
She provides moral support for people who were injured by the train; she gives them hope.
She locates artificial limbs – doctors donate time.
97-98: Wendy is gang raped when attempting to circumvent an immigration checkpoint.
Rape is a weapon to dehumanize people; Dehumanization makes others feel hopeless and as a tool to humiliation.
It is a cultural tool that justifies dehumanization.
98-100: OAXACA
Migrants learn slang, words for things in Mexican Spanish, history and other facts, “orale jefe!” – “whats up?”
-Enrique attempts to blend in by cleaning up and getting a haircut.
* His determination is steeled by everything he has gone through.