Ever wonder what it’s like to cross from Mexico to the United States without authorization? Fusion chronicles the story of 25-year-old “Lourdes,” who documented her multiple attempts to cross the border and join her girlfriend in the States.
Lourdes posted to Facebook many times during her months-long ordeal, which included six unsuccessful attempts. Her posts chronicle the dangers of the journey — one activist told her she could expect gang rape, at the very least, if she tried to go alone — and also its loneliness. In this video, she talks about being led astray by a man who was supposed to guide her, and ends with a heartfelt message to her girlfriend:
Fusion reports that Lourdes finally made it through, after spending much of 2014 trying. Whatever your feelings on unauthorized immigration, you have to at least feel relieved that a young woman who was in a perilous situation is now safe. Fusion also tells the story of 13-year-old David, who also posted to Facebook while trying to exit Honduras; his updates stopped abruptly more than a year ago.
Lourdes asked Fusion to post this statement alongside her video:
“It’s not a crime to try and get ahead. It’s not a crime to work to give your children something better. I don’t know why people don’t understand our poverty, our sadness. We deserve respect, we deserve a chance to work, and to live well, and to study.”
You can read more about her journey here.