SPEECH/TEXT
Every year hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico on their way towards the American dream.
Those who want to travel to the United States usually board the train.
Many of them continue their journey across Mexico on board the infamous Soconusco goods train.
Although it is the most dangerous method
it is the easiest one,
because the possibility that the immigration officers catch you is very small
First I travelled by bus through Guatemala.
And then in Guatemala I got on the train.
The Shelter Jesús el Buen Pastor in the city of Tapachula has taken care of nearly 5000 migrants injured by the train between 1997-2005.
Victims of the Railracks
Pull that string, so that you can finish the cross stitch
My name is José Nestor, Im 25 years old.
Im from Honduras.
My intention was to leave there -
because I wanted to work for two or three years...
My only aim was to get something to eat.
So, I thought I could work for a couple of years in the US
and then return to Honduras and open a shop.
And although I wouldnt earn millions
I could at least live more comfortably.
And I wouldn't need to constantly look for work.
My name is Wilfredo Antonio Blanco and Im from El Salvador.
Im 21 years old.
In El Salvador I wanted to start studying -
So that I could advance my career.
And thats why I decided to go on this journey.
- What a beautiful song.- Yes, it is.
-What number is it?-14.
Yes, a really beautiful song.
I always looked up to people who had studied -
and admired their work. I wanted to become like them.
Im from Honduras and Im 14 years old.
My name is Deris Marel.
I was going to school but dropped out to go to the US.
I wanted to earn money.
One sees how those returning from the US bring a car and a lot of money.
One becomes hopeful and wants to travel there as well.
Lord, bless all the children in need
who loiter on the streets, and all the patients in the hospitals,
as well as those migrants who cross this country
and who don't suffer from hunger, but who are troubled by a hunger for material goods
without searching for anything spiritual.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth...
The United States is a country of work. Its a country, where...
you are paid well and where your efforts are rewarded
Its also a society where
they take good care of animals, nature and old people.
Theyve installed surveillance cameras on the US border,
so that they can choose who to accept into their country and who not to.
Im going with a coyote (human smuggler).
With a coyote I can get to the United States.
- Green backs are waiting...-Oh my lord, my friend.
Life is hard there.
Ive lived there for some time,
and I can say life is hard there.
They don't want illegal immigrants.
What do they want?
Just, their own citizens...
Intelligent people! They want intelligent people!
Hey, don't talk like that to him.
But you are intelligent!
Thats why theyll accept you in the States!
Ill go there because I want to help out my mother,
because our home is poor.
Listen, my mother mops and launders,
Ill help her to earn so much that she can also get to the States
Ill help her... Ill work very hard.
Itll be tough because of this foot.
But why don't you help your mother with that money?
If she mops and launders, why don't you help her, instead of...?
Oh my god, give me patience!
Imagine, they ask 90 000 lempiras for it in his country!
I fell off the train and with my bad luck, I fell between the train tracks.
I grabbed the train but could not find any support for my feet.
I was too heavy and the train was speeding too fast.
I couldnt stand the pressure any more and I lost my grip,
unluckily I fell onto the tracks
and as I fell the train cut both my legs.
After we had travelled for a while, the problems started -
when the mara gang attacked us.
They were 20 altogether, 10 with machetes and 10 with rifles.
They attacked us, -
and because they didn't find anything to steal,
out of rage they started throwing us down.
I fell down and wanted to roll away from the train
but it was impossible, -
because there were trees in the way. And that is when I felt the train run over my foot.
I was travelling on the train, I fell asleep and fell off.
-And your arm got cut off?- Yes, the train crushed it.
Maybe one of the wheels drove over it, I don't know
because I had fallen asleep, I didnt even realise what was happening.
I always wonder if I should go back home.
Many times I also think about whether I should have started this journey at all.
Because my grandparents were ill, I was afraid they would die
and that would have worried me if I had been anywhere else.
But at the same time I thought that in the US I could do something more.
Maybe they didnt expect money
as their only wish was that Id stay with them.
But I didnt think about it in that way, I thought differently.
I just wanted to be able to tell them, -
eat whatever you wish.
Ill return to my home country.
Im only waiting for my prosthesis and that I can train a bit with them.
And then Ill go home, because I want to see my family and friends.
Its a huge trauma that one cannot move...
that one cannot move without a wheelchair.
I first want to overcome my trauma, -
before I think about my future.
Once I have overcome my trauma, I can start thinking about my future
I guess with the prosthesis I can live a fairly normal life.
Who will leave?
One Salvadorian and one Honduran.
Take care of yourself.
- Where will you be taken to?- to El Salvador.
-Up to the border?- Yes, up to the border
I will continue...
to the United States.
But not any more by train.
How do you want to travel?
By taxi.
Its easier to go by taxi.
There are less dangers.
-Take care of yourself.-You too.
When I meet others who want to get to the US, -
Ill always tell them not to get onto the train, -
because the train is very dangerous.
direction, photography and editing Heidi Lipsanen
produced by Moscas Productions Ltd
All rights reserved
Music composed by Heidi Lipsanen on Macintosh
Every year hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico on their way towards the American dream.
Those who want to travel to the United States usually board the train.
Many of them continue their journey across Mexico on board the infamous Soconusco goods train.
Although it is the most dangerous method
it is the easiest one,
because the possibility that the immigration officers catch you is very small
First I travelled by bus through Guatemala.
And then in Guatemala I got on the train.
The Shelter Jesús el Buen Pastor in the city of Tapachula has taken care of nearly 5000 migrants injured by the train between 1997-2005.
Victims of the Railracks
Pull that string, so that you can finish the cross stitch
My name is José Nestor, Im 25 years old.
Im from Honduras.
My intention was to leave there -
because I wanted to work for two or three years...
My only aim was to get something to eat.
So, I thought I could work for a couple of years in the US
and then return to Honduras and open a shop.
And although I wouldnt earn millions
I could at least live more comfortably.
And I wouldn't need to constantly look for work.
My name is Wilfredo Antonio Blanco and Im from El Salvador.
Im 21 years old.
In El Salvador I wanted to start studying -
So that I could advance my career.
And thats why I decided to go on this journey.
- What a beautiful song.- Yes, it is.
-What number is it?-14.
Yes, a really beautiful song.
I always looked up to people who had studied -
and admired their work. I wanted to become like them.
Im from Honduras and Im 14 years old.
My name is Deris Marel.
I was going to school but dropped out to go to the US.
I wanted to earn money.
One sees how those returning from the US bring a car and a lot of money.
One becomes hopeful and wants to travel there as well.
Lord, bless all the children in need
who loiter on the streets, and all the patients in the hospitals,
as well as those migrants who cross this country
and who don't suffer from hunger, but who are troubled by a hunger for material goods
without searching for anything spiritual.
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth...
The United States is a country of work. Its a country, where...
you are paid well and where your efforts are rewarded
Its also a society where
they take good care of animals, nature and old people.
Theyve installed surveillance cameras on the US border,
so that they can choose who to accept into their country and who not to.
Im going with a coyote (human smuggler).
With a coyote I can get to the United States.
- Green backs are waiting...-Oh my lord, my friend.
Life is hard there.
Ive lived there for some time,
and I can say life is hard there.
They don't want illegal immigrants.
What do they want?
Just, their own citizens...
Intelligent people! They want intelligent people!
Hey, don't talk like that to him.
But you are intelligent!
Thats why theyll accept you in the States!
Ill go there because I want to help out my mother,
because our home is poor.
Listen, my mother mops and launders,
Ill help her to earn so much that she can also get to the States
Ill help her... Ill work very hard.
Itll be tough because of this foot.
But why don't you help your mother with that money?
If she mops and launders, why don't you help her, instead of...?
Oh my god, give me patience!
Imagine, they ask 90 000 lempiras for it in his country!
I fell off the train and with my bad luck, I fell between the train tracks.
I grabbed the train but could not find any support for my feet.
I was too heavy and the train was speeding too fast.
I couldnt stand the pressure any more and I lost my grip,
unluckily I fell onto the tracks
and as I fell the train cut both my legs.
After we had travelled for a while, the problems started -
when the mara gang attacked us.
They were 20 altogether, 10 with machetes and 10 with rifles.
They attacked us, -
and because they didn't find anything to steal,
out of rage they started throwing us down.
I fell down and wanted to roll away from the train
but it was impossible, -
because there were trees in the way. And that is when I felt the train run over my foot.
I was travelling on the train, I fell asleep and fell off.
-And your arm got cut off?- Yes, the train crushed it.
Maybe one of the wheels drove over it, I don't know
because I had fallen asleep, I didnt even realise what was happening.
I always wonder if I should go back home.
Many times I also think about whether I should have started this journey at all.
Because my grandparents were ill, I was afraid they would die
and that would have worried me if I had been anywhere else.
But at the same time I thought that in the US I could do something more.
Maybe they didnt expect money
as their only wish was that Id stay with them.
But I didnt think about it in that way, I thought differently.
I just wanted to be able to tell them, -
eat whatever you wish.
Ill return to my home country.
Im only waiting for my prosthesis and that I can train a bit with them.
And then Ill go home, because I want to see my family and friends.
Its a huge trauma that one cannot move...
that one cannot move without a wheelchair.
I first want to overcome my trauma, -
before I think about my future.
Once I have overcome my trauma, I can start thinking about my future
I guess with the prosthesis I can live a fairly normal life.
Who will leave?
One Salvadorian and one Honduran.
Take care of yourself.
- Where will you be taken to?- to El Salvador.
-Up to the border?- Yes, up to the border
I will continue...
to the United States.
But not any more by train.
How do you want to travel?
By taxi.
Its easier to go by taxi.
There are less dangers.
-Take care of yourself.-You too.
When I meet others who want to get to the US, -
Ill always tell them not to get onto the train, -
because the train is very dangerous.
direction, photography and editing Heidi Lipsanen
produced by Moscas Productions Ltd
All rights reserved
Music composed by Heidi Lipsanen on Macintosh