Border Song: A Story of Violence and Flight
Carmela fled to New Jersey to escape violence in Guatemala. Now she waits for the U.S. immigration system to decide if she can stay. Meanwhile, all of the other Carmelas wait, as well.
This the story of a refugee. It is her story, but also one that is emblematic of so many other stories of so many men, women, and children who have fled violence and threats of violence, extreme poverty (which is a form of violence), environmental degradation, political and economic corruption, and the long list of ills that consume many in the so-called Third World.
Carmela is from Guatemala. She first tried entering the United States in 2011, fleeing local violence, but was turned away. She returned to Guatemala and became involved with a man who became abusive. She was raped, the police were unresponsive, and her son was threatened. So she fled Guatemala a second time, traveling by bus across Mexico and crossing into Arizona. She now resides in central New Jersey with her two kids and awaits an immigration hearing.
Carmela (not her real name) says she would prefer to have stayed in Guatemala, but the violence and corruption there have made it impossible, and the United States offers her the best chance at safety for herself and her children. However, there are no guarantees that she will be given that chance, as the Trump administration makes efforts to stem the flow of refugees into the country.