César Urincho Castro migrated from Mexico in 2004 seeking the American Dream. Castro explains his desire for better living standards and how that motivated him to enact his highly perilous first crossing attempt near the border. This attempt culminated in a terrifying high-speed chase involving 36 migrants crammed into a truck, which crashed after the co-pilot fired a weapon at pursuers. After being deported following a week of detention marked by starvation and abuse from immigration agents, Castro immediately secured a coyote and made a second, successful journey to Los Angeles. His account concludes by detailing his life in California, including work in construction and meaningful cultural integration with other Mexican communities, while reflecting on the luck of surviving such a dangerous journey.