{"id":24008,"date":"2024-11-19T06:01:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/?p=24008"},"modified":"2025-03-13T16:41:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T21:41:42","slug":"al-salir-de-venezuela-la-unica-opcion-para-nosotros-eran-los-estados-unidos-migrantes-recien-llegados","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/2024\/11\/19\/leaving-venezuela-the-only-option-for-us-was-the-united-states-migrants-new-arrivals\/","title":{"rendered":"Abandonar Venezuela: \"La \u00fanica opci\u00f3n para nosotros era Estados Unidos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69ad28c\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This story was a collaboration between <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>the<\/em> <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investigative Project on Race and Equity and Borderless Magazine.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/sites\/texas-new-arrivals\/home\/Dashboard.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50,000 migrants <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have arrived in Chicago on buses and planes over the last two years as part of an effort to pressure Democrats to enact stricter immigration policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of these migrants have come from Venezuela, fleeing the country\u2019s economic and political crisis, and crossed the United States-Mexico border to seek asylum. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/2022\/12\/01\/more-than-25-of-venezuelans-have-left-their-country-and-are-finding-new-homes-in-places-like-chicago\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than seven million Venezuelans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have left their country since 2014. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"templatera_shortcode\">\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69af238\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex vc_row-o-content-middle small\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone border_color_909090 border_style_solid \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b003c\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex vc_row-o-content-middle large top_margin_20px bottom_margin_20px\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"true\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row-bg-overlay row-bg-layer\" style=\"background: #FFFFFF; background: linear-gradient(90deg,#FFFFFF 0%,#FFFFFF 100%);  opacity: 1; \"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent force-phone-text-align-center inherit_tablet inherit_phone border_top_desktop_1px border_bottom_desktop_1px border_color_FFFFFF border_style_solid \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b07fe\" data-midnight=\"\" data-column-margin=\"default\" class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row inner_row vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex vc_row-o-content-middle\"  style=\"\"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\"> <div class=\"row-bg\" ><\/div> <\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12_inner col span_12  left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-7 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col child_column no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"   data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<h4 id=\"news-that-puts-power-under-the-spotlight-and-communities-at-the-center\"><strong>News that puts power under the spotlight and communities at the center.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates twice a week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div style=\"margin-top: -20px; \" class=\"vc_col-sm-5 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col child_column neg-marg no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"   data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"wpb_raw_code wpb_raw_html wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"_form_1\"><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.bluelena.io\/f\/embed.php?id=1\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borderless Magazine and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity spent months speaking to migrants in Chicago as part of our investigation into a company charged with taking care of them in city-funded shelters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of their stories.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-montoya-and-merida-family\">The Montoya and Merida Family<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b27c7\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-1245x830.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_-Montoya-Merida-Family-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Jos\u00e9 Miguel Montoya and Gredys Moncada Merida and their children Sommer Nieves Montoya and Jos\u00e9 Alejandro Montoya in Union Park near a shelter they were staying at, on July 3, 2024. Max Herman\/Borderless Magazine<\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Max Herman\/Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b36da\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jos\u00e9 Montoya and his wife, Gredys Merida, sold everything they had before leaving Colombia with their two children. Montoya worked as an elementary school teacher, and Merida worked for the government. They left hoping to find jobs with a monthly salary that would pay for more than the ones they had, which only covered the cost of one kilo of rice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally from Venezuela, Montoya said the family lived in Colombia for eight years before things worsened. \u201cThe only option for us was the United States,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Montoya carried their 2-year-old son and lugged the family\u2019s belongings while Merida held their 9-year-old daughter\u2019s hand along the journey. They trekked through seven countries to reach the U.S. border.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family crossed the treacherous jungle that passes through Colombia and Panama. They hired a guide on the Colombian side, but once they crossed into Panama, \u201cGod is the only one guiding you,\u201d Montoya said. Previous migrants left a trail of blue and red flags to mark safe and unsafe routes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple recalled days of climbing and hiking. At one point, they crossed a river filled with trash and what they were told were dead bodies. They had no clean water to drink. They feared being attacked by the wild animals that they often heard at night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b416a\" data-midnight=\"\" data-column-margin=\"default\" class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row inner_row\"  style=\"\"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\"> <div class=\"row-bg\" ><\/div> <\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12_inner col span_12  left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col child_column no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone border_bottom_desktop_1px border_color_000000 border_style_solid \"   data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_sep_color_black wpb_content_element vc_separator-has-text\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><h4 id=\"read-more-of-our-coverage\">Read More of Our Coverage<\/h4><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-inline-posts\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-inline-posts-container pk-inline-posts-template-list\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-columns=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article id=\"post-23995\" class=\"post-23995 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-environmentandhealth category-investigation category-labor category-visuals tag-favoritecollab\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-post-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-post-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-overlay pk-overlay-ratio pk-ratio-landscape\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-overlay-background\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/2024\/11\/19\/chicago-migrant-shelter-favorite-healthcare-staffing\/\" class=\"pk-overlay-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024_10_28_IPRE-Favorite-Staffing_Web_01-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-pk-thumbnail size-pk-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-post-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"pk-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/2024\/11\/19\/chicago-migrant-shelter-favorite-healthcare-staffing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">City Contractor \u2018Failed\u2019 Clients as Migrant Shelter Complaints Mounted, Staffers Say<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pk-post-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"pk-meta-author meta-author\"><span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/author\/emeline-posner\/\" title=\"View all posts by Emeline Posner\">Emeline Posner<\/a><\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sep\">\u00b7<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"pk-meta-date meta-date\"><a href=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/es\/2024\/11\/19\/chicago-migrant-shelter-favorite-healthcare-staffing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">noviembre 19, 2024<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .post-inner -->\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .post-outer -->\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After surviving the journey, Montoya recalled saying, \u201cSomos fuertes,\u201d or \u201cWe are strong.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEveryone talks about the jungle, but Mexico was worse,\u201d Merida said. They had to avoid the cartels and the authorities near Mexico City, then hop on trains and cross the desert by foot until Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, Montoya said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust like there\u2019s bad people,\u201d Merida said, \u201cthere\u2019s good people.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family has tremendous gratitude for those who helped them along the journey, especially the churches in the U.S. that gave them clothes, jobs and the legal assistance needed to begin their asylum process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey extended a hand so we could lift ourselves up,\u201d Merida said. \u201cI didn\u2019t already have someone here, but I will be that person for the people that come in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-guerra-and-mercado-family\">The Guerra and Mercado Family<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"wpb_widgetised_column wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t<div id=\"sidebar\" data-nectar-ss=\"true\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div id=\"custom_html-4 1articleright\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\"><h3 id=\"wordpress-popular-posts\" class=\"widget-title\">WordPress Popular Posts<\/h3><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><h4 id=\"trending-posts\" class=\"widget-title\">Trending Posts<\/h4><div class=\"wpp-shortcode\"><script type=\"application\/json\" data-id=\"wpp-shortcode-inline-js\">{\"title\":\"Trending Posts\",\"limit\":\"3\",\"offset\":0,\"range\":\"custom\",\"time_quantity\":\"124\",\"time_unit\":\"day\",\"freshness\":\"1\",\"order_by\":\"views\",\"post_type\":\"post\",\"pid\":\"\",\"exclude\":\"\",\"cat\":\"\",\"taxonomy\":\"category\",\"term_id\":\"\",\"author\":\"\",\"shorten_title\":{\"active\":false,\"length\":0,\"words\":false},\"post-excerpt\":{\"active\":false,\"length\":0,\"keep_format\":false,\"words\":false},\"thumbnail\":{\"active\":true,\"build\":\"predefined\",\"width\":\"240\",\"height\":\"160\"},\"rating\":false,\"stats_tag\":{\"comment_count\":false,\"views\":false,\"author\":false,\"date\":{\"active\":false,\"format\":\"F j, Y\"},\"category\":false,\"taxonomy\":{\"active\":false,\"name\":\"category\"}},\"markup\":{\"custom_html\":true,\"wpp-start\":\"&lt;ul class=&quot;wpp-list wpp-cardview&quot;&gt;\",\"wpp-end\":\"&lt;\\\/ul&gt;\",\"title-start\":\"&lt;h4 class=&quot;widget-title&quot;&gt;\",\"title-end\":\"&lt;\\\/h4&gt;\",\"post-html\":\"&lt;li&gt;{thumb} {title} {stats}&lt;\\\/li&gt;\"},\"theme\":{\"name\":\"\"}}<\/script><div class=\"wpp-shortcode-placeholder\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69b97b6\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-1245x830.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_Mercado_-Family-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Jasmin Guerra and Ra\u00fal Mercado and their kids, Adriana, Aranza and Ra\u00fal in Union Park near the shelter they were staying at on July 3, 2024.<\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Max Herman\/Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69ba4f4\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ra\u00fal Mercado worked two human resources jobs while living with his wife, Jasmin Guerra, and four children in Caracas, Venezuela. They couldn\u2019t afford rice, and the cost of living drove them to move to Bogot\u00e1, Colombia, in 2018. They began their journey to the U.S. in Nov. 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, they went to Medell<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n and crossed the Colombian jungle with relative ease before two sleepless nights on the Panamanian side, where they could hear jaguars and yelps of terror. \u201cI would cry every night because I wanted to return to my house in Colombia,\u201d Mercado and Guerra\u2019s oldest daughter, Adriana, said. The 16-year-old saw her father get robbed at gunpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guerra said the journey was especially hard for her youngest daughter, Aranza, who suffers from vertigo. Her eldest son, Carlos, carried his sister when she had intense nausea or headaches that prevented her from walking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOne misstep and you lose your life,\u201d Adriana said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family trudged through horrible conditions \u2013 trash, makeshift shelters and unsanitary bathrooms \u2013 while crossing the rest of Panama. They took a bus across Costa Rica to Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, where they faced cartels and police extortion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family spent two weeks looking for a place to stay in Guatemala and finally found shelter on Dec. 24. Along their journey from Nicaragua to Guatemala, the United Nations distributed food and other supplies, such as sunscreen and aid kits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn spite of being robbed and scared to death, God has put good people in our path,\u201d Guerra said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They arrived at Mexico\u2019s southern border the night of Dec. 30. That\u2019s when the eldest son Carlos was separated from the family by the southern Mexican border police and sent to Tuxtla Guti\u00e9rrez in the state of Chiapas. The family later reunited and worked on a farm together in Tuxtla. They saved enough money to get to Mexico City, where they continued to work for two months. From there, they traveled north to Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, evading Mexican migration officers, catching trains and walking through the desert to get there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They arrived at the Texas border on May 27 and then in Chicago a few days later. They stayed at the Ogden shelter until their three-month period ended in August. The Ogden shelter officially closed in October. The family applied for asylum, but their court date is not until two years from now.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jorge-ibata\">Jorge Ibata<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bb5ea\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-1245x830.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Jorge_Web-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Jorge Ibata, from Venezuela, has been staying at a migrant shelter downtown. <\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Max Herman\/Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bc332\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p>Jorge Ibata, 62, was born in Colombia and raised in Venezuela. He came to the U.S. to build a new life. Ibata owned a muffler shop in the small town of El Vigia. Every Sunday, people would go to the local river, have a beer, fire up the grill and enjoy food, he recalled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLife in Venezuela was a paradise,\u201d Ibata said. \u201cIt was the only place in the world where gas was completely free. So one had a good life, good food, good cars, good job.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But in 2007, his life changed forever. A car hit him and for seven years, he lived with screws in his leg. But his leg still gave him trouble and he eventually had to sell his shop and car in order to pay for his operations. Doctors amputated his leg.<\/p>\n<p>Ibata then transported crafts for three hours from Venezuela to Colombia, earning $600 weekly. He left after Hugo Chavez&#8217;s rise. His nephew encouraged him to go to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>At the start of the journey, Ibata stayed behind his family in a Panamanian army base because he could not walk. His prosthetic leg was filled with water, sand and sweat. He developed an ulcer that caused his skin to fall off from rubbing against the plastic of his prosthetic leg.<\/p>\n<p>After recuperating at the army camp, Ibata entered the jungle, navigating cliffs and a river that nearly swept him away. It took him five days to get through. \u201cFrom miracles, I am alive from miracles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Getting through Central America and later Mexico was a different type of danger. Ibata recalls encountering gangs, robbers and police who demanded money. Escaping attempted kidnappings and shakedowns, Ibata gave credit to God for the kind of luck he had.<\/p>\n<p>He felt a sense of relief when he arrived at the U.S. border.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was already filled with adrenaline,\u201d Ibata said. \u201cI felt happy in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. immigration officials sent Ibata to Atlanta, where he spent six months at a detention facility. He was eventually handed a plane ticket to Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like Chicago very much,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ibata is taking English classes and wants to find a job. He hopes to save money and move into a home of his own. When he has earned enough money, he wants to return home to Colombia.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"franklin-diaz\">Franklin Diaz<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bd2f6\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-1245x830.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Franklinjpg-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Franklin, from Venezuela, has been staying at migrant shelter downtown.<\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Max Herman\/Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bdfbd\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p>Franklin Jose Delgado Diaz, 50, left Venezuela for a better future for his family. Originally from Maracaibo in the northwest state of Zulia, he worked on a chicken farm. He came to Chicago with his wife, two teenage sons, a 9-year-old daughter, a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old daughter earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>When Diaz and his family were threatened by a gang at their sons\u2019 baseball academy, he transferred his sons to another academy in the state. After the move, his family set up a grocery shop. He soon received threats from another gang, asking for a $500 fee to continue running the shop.<\/p>\n<p>They sold everything they owned to collect enough money to leave for the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt takes psychological preparation, thinking about the family&#8217;s future, and starting the journey just by looking at my children,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cAnd that&#8217;s what gave me the strength to keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They traveled to Colombia, and his wife\u2019s dual citizenship allowed her and their children to travel to Panama. Diaz hiked alone through the Dari\u00e9n Gap for two and a half days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were crocodiles,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cReptiles, snakes, tigers, many animals in that jungle, and one doesn&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Diaz waited for his family in Costa Rica for 25 days. When they got to Guatemala, there was a large police presence. \u201cThey extort you if you&#8217;re an immigrant,\u201d he said, and you pay up to $20 at each checkpoint to cross. They also faced harassment from cartels.<\/p>\n<p>The family took several buses before crossing to Mexico. After living in Mexico City for four months, they traveled to Tijuana and crossed into San Diego.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a great joy because [the U.S.] treated us so well,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cIt was a great emotion [when we arrived] &#8230; my sons hugged me and my wife and my sister-in-law and said, \u2018We did it, we did it, we did it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The journey is not without scars. Diaz is in therapy now. He and his wife take English classes, while his younger children are enrolled in local schools. His older boys play baseball in Lincoln Park.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to work hard,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cYou have to make the land like a farmer and start planting those seeds so that they can be fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ana-parra\">Ana Parra<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bf0eb\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1277\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-1245x828.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08-Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Ana.VenezuelanStories_IPRE_Ana-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Ana Parra in Proksa Park in Berywn, IL. <\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Efrain Soriano for Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69bfdc3\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p>Ana Parra, 55, came from Venezuela with her pregnant daughter and two granddaughters. They traveled through the Panamanian jungle, hostile locals and corrupt Central American authorities to get here.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving Venezuela, Parra worked as the director of the child and adolescent protection system and later the women&#8217;s institute in the municipality of Camatagua.<\/p>\n<p>Her life back home used to be stable. She had a house, land, cattle and horses. But the family\u2019s world quickly turned upside down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy daughter was in the military,\u201d Parra said. \u201cMy daughter deserted, due to arbitrary orders from her superiors, and a persecution of the family began.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parra said she received an anonymous phone call from someone saying they knew where her child attended kindergarten. Fearing for her family\u2019s safety, they fled to Colombia in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Her daughter secured a job as a hotel receptionist, while Parra worked as a behavioral therapist and then a chef. But after nine months, guerrillas threatened her daughter and asked her to join their ranks.<\/p>\n<p>The family decided to leave for the U.S. \u201cImagine what we had to go through,\u201d Parra said. \u201cIt hurts because \u2026 you leave part of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Central America, the family dealt with people who attempted to extort or kidnap migrants. A friend sheltered them in Guatemala. Crossing into Mexico, Parra remembered traveling from town to town, sometimes walking and hitching rides from locals at night. In Mexico, they hopped on trains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was so traumatic for me,\u201d said Parra, who has a bad knee. \u201cYou see it in the movies, you could see how the train killed people trying to get on it. I had that horror movie in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Chihuahua, they had to avoid Mexican immigration enforcement. At the border, Parra said her family and hundreds of migrants placed their blankets on a short barbed-wire fence and climbed over. She said that officers soon cornered her and the other migrants. But the crowd was too large for the officers to handle, and they were allowed to move on.<\/p>\n<p>Parra hopes to use her work experience to help people in Chicago. She wants to thank this country for giving her and her family the opportunity to live safely. She hopes to continue her career here and help those in need just as she did back in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"reina-isabel-jerez-garcia\">Reina Isabel Jerez Garcia<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69c0d4e\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row article-image\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-with-aniamtion-wrap center\" data-max-width=\"100%\" data-max-width-mobile=\"default\" data-shadow=\"none\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" >\r\n      <div class=\"inner\">\r\n        <div class=\"hover-wrap\"> \r\n          <div class=\"hover-wrap-inner\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-animation skip-lazy \" data-delay=\"0\" height=\"1277\" width=\"1920\" data-animation=\"fade-in\" src=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-1245x828.jpg 1245w, https:\/\/borderlessmag.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024_11_08_Migrant-Family-Stories_IPRE_Reina-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1450px) 75vw, (min-width: 1000px) 85vw, 100vw\" \/>\r\n         <\/div>\r\n      <\/div><span class=\"vc_figure-caption ccfic-text media-caption\">Reina Isabel Jerez Garcia in Pullman Park on the far South Side.<\/span><span class=\"media-credit\">Efrain Soriano for Borderless Magazine<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"fws_69d76d69c1c13\"  data-column-margin=\"default\" data-midnight=\"dark\"  class=\"wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row\"  style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; \"><div class=\"row-bg-wrap\" data-bg-animation=\"none\" data-bg-animation-delay=\"\" data-bg-overlay=\"false\"><div class=\"inner-wrap row-bg-layer\" ><div class=\"row-bg viewport-desktop\"  style=\"\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"row_col_wrap_12 col span_12 dark left\">\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col padding-3-percent inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \" >\n\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reina Isabel Jerez Garcia, 38, and her teenage son were the first of their family of five to cross the Mexican border into the U.S. A lifelong organizer for women\u2019s and victims\u2019 rights, Jerez left her native Colombia after guerrilla groups killed her friends and brother and made escalating threats of violence against her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As they wound their way through shelters and federal immigration facilities in New Mexico and Arizona, Jerez remembered asking a staff person what city was the safest for incoming asylum seekers. The answer she got was Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She did not know a soul in Chicago when her plane touched down at Midway Airport in August 2023. She recalls waiting on a blanket on the floor in the landing zone at Midway airport, anxious to see how her life in Chicago would unfold. She joked with contractors about the quality of the food being distributed to the arriving families \u2014 \u201cfood for dogs,\u201d she called it. They laughed at her jokes. \u201cI always tell it like it is,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t<div  class=\"vc_col-sm-2 vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs wpb_column column_container vc_column_container col no-extra-padding inherit_tablet inherit_phone \"  data-padding-pos=\"all\" data-has-bg-color=\"false\" data-bg-color=\"\" data-bg-opacity=\"1\" data-animation=\"\" data-delay=\"0\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_column-inner\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seis familias migrantes compartieron su viaje desde Centroam\u00e9rica y Sudam\u00e9rica para empezar una nueva vida en Chicago.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":24010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,324],"tags":[663],"coauthors":[662,441],"class_list":{"0":"post-24008","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-as-told-to","8":"category-visuals","9":"tag-ipreportraits"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chicago Migrants Share Stories of Leaving Venezuela &#8211; Borderless Magazine NFP<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Six migrant families in Chicago shared their journeys from Central and South America to start a new life in the United States.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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