Vanessa, a 35-year-old Venezuelan, recounts her arduous journey to the United States. She began by crossing the Darién jungle to reach Guatemala and then Tapachula, Mexico. There, the real suffering began, as the jungle was not the worst part. Along the way, both combi and bus drivers and authorities were colluding, demanding bribes from migrants at each checkpoint. Vanessa, traveling with her daughter, had to constantly pay to avoid being detained or sent back, facing varying amounts from 300 to 1,000 pesos. She finally reached Ciudad de México and then Monterrey, where she found refuge and help from a Christian couple who provided her with housing and employment.

With the money she saved, she attempted to cross into the U.S. but was detained in Piedras Negras and held in a detention center for a month, separated from her daughter for eight days, which was extremely distressing. After being deported back to Mexico, she contacted the couple who had previously helped her. She saved money for three more months and managed to cross into the U.S. with the help of a new coyote. She is now living in the U.S., working, and able to provide a better quality of life for her daughter.