A Honduran man’s faith carries him through adversity and eventually leads him to the United States.
Alex and his wife fled Honduras after being threatened by a local gang. In Mexico, Alex’s pregnant wife was abducted, but fortunately found alive a day later by Mexican authorities. After this traumatic experience, Alex’s wife decided to return to Honduras, leaving Alex to carry on the journey to the US on his own.
After a few failed attempts to schedule an interview, Alex and I met at the shelter that lodged him. He hugged me hello and showed me to the church where the shelter holds their daily worship. The church was sweltering, as the fans were not on and the windows were closed, but Alex didn’t seem to mind, so we got started.
“I am from Honduras and arrived in Tijuana in October 2018. Thank God I left home without any problem, although we did face many challenges along the way. I left with enough money to pay for transportation to Tijuana, but the journey was still hard. My wife was kidnapped in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on our way to Mexico. The bus we were on had stopped so we could stretch our legs and use the restroom. My wife got off, while I stayed on the bus. I waited for her to come back, and she never did. I thought I was going to lose my mind when I didn’t see her in the rest stop, and I immediately realized she had been kidnapped. I screamed and knelt down to pray in the middle of the street. I then pulled myself together and filed a report with the Mexican police. That day, I looked for her through the night. I didn’t think I would find her, and I was sure the federal police would find her dead. Around 3:00 am, I received a call from the federal police telling me they had found her alive in an abandoned room. That was tremendous luck! Mexico has a really great police force. Her kidnappers carved a sign into her back with a knife.” He struggled to remember the letters they carved: “‘J.E.S.’ That is what they wrote on her back. When she sent me pictures of her back, I felt as if someone had broken my soul in two. I felt like I had been killed in that moment. I then thought, ‘I must be strong, and I must have faith because it is Jesus who gives me strength.’”
“She was pregnant with my baby and almost suffered a miscarriage because of this. She was hospitalized in Tapachula, Mexico, for three months. I thought she was going to lose her mind, too, after the trauma she endured. Luckily, she had great medical care. There are excellent doctors in Mexico! While hospitalized, she was asked whether she wanted to stay, and she said she did not want to live in Mexico. Of course, after everything she had been through, she went into a panic! I spoke with her, and she told me she could not continue the journey to the US, that she would rather die”—Alex quickly chose another term, as if uttering the word “die” could hurt his wife—“She would rather go back to Honduras. We agreed she would return, and I would continue. I had to continue. I have to cross to the other side. She cried. She kissed me. It wasn’t easy. We were risking her life by sending her back, but God gave us strength.
“She also has problems back in Honduras. Both of us were attacked by Los Amadores, a group of drug traffickers back home. One of her uncles was killed by Los Amadores. Thankfully, she is staying with one of my aunts right now. She barely leaves the house and chooses instead to remain locked away in a room. She can’t work, so she has to remain inside the house. If I obtain asylum in the US, I will send for her and my son.
“My son was born a month ago. He is so beautiful! I thought I was going to lose him. The doctors kept calling me and calling me. I spent nearly 15,000 MEX ($788.53) on hospital bills for my wife and son, money that I worked hard to get while living here in Mexico. I continue to send her money through Banco Azteca Elektra. I send her 700–800 MEX ($36.80–$42.05) weekly. That is my obligation. I have to ask my boss for more money sometimes because I end up sending all of my earnings to her and my son. I am unable to send the money directly because I lack proper documentation. Instead I have to ask my boss or someone at the church to send the money for me. I give whoever helps me a ‘certification,’ 100 MEX ($5.26), for their goodwill.
“My wife and I left Honduras on our own, but by the time we arrived in Tapachula, the caravan started trickling in as well. I felt very vulnerable and scared in Tapachula, but luckily, the Mexican government supported me with some resources when they heard me preaching the gospel, speaking to anyone I found along the way about Jesus. The government realized I was legitimately a good person looking for protection, and they asked me what I wanted. I told them I had a problem and was running away from my country and that if I returned to Honduras, I would be killed. I told them I felt attacked and sad because around me were only strangers. They provided me with a sort of EBT [electronic benefits transfer] card with 2,300 MEX ($120.91) a month, but they never gave me a humanitarian visa. I would have had to wait far too long to get a visa.
“Rent in Tapachula was very expensive, so I slept in a park that was protected by Mexican marines. Since there were so many people staying in the park, I would wake up in the middle of the night and preach to those who were around. There were so many people there. I was surprised! I kept asking myself, ‘What’s happening? Is it the end of the world, or what?’ There were just too many people. People kept flowing in, and I grew scared. Just as there are good people, there are also dangerous people with bad intentions. But God protected me. I would just preach, and those with a good conscience and a good heart—of which there are many in Mexico—would give me money and food. People saw my effort and recognized the situation I was in. They saw I was trying to survive.
“I stayed in Tapachula for three months, during which I was unable to access decent employment because I lacked the necessary documents. Nevertheless, I eventually found work at a store, unloading trucks and working in sales. Sometimes I would work until 8:00 pm and would be exhausted. As a migrant, you are exploited, bled dry. Imagine getting paid 800 MEX ($42.05) a week. You are basically a slave. We are all human beings, and we all have the right to have our work be appreciated. That’s why I decided to just leave and come here, where God has made lots of employment opportunities available to me.
“I lived a long time in the park until a Mexican man told me of a place that was renting out rooms to migrants. The rent was 1,200 MEX ($63.08) a month, leaving me with 1,100 MEX ($57.83) for food. That’s how I survived until a federal agent asked me what my plans were. I told him I wanted to go to Tijuana to get my name on the list and cross into the US legally. He asked me whether I was considering jumping the wall. I explained that was not my intention because I wanted to be in the US legally, regardless of how long that took. Three or four years? I didn’t care. He commended me for thinking as I did and provided me with a fifteen-day transit pass. He explained the transit pass would shield me from detention and told me of a bus I could take the following day. The transit pass also included his number, in case I needed to contact him.
“I arrived in Tijuana in January 2019. When I arrived, I thought I was in the US because Tijuana was so beautiful! I had heard a lot of things about this city, but I never imagined it would be this beautiful. A Mexican man I met took me to the border where I could sign up on the list to get my number the next day. That night, I slept in the Barretal [the same shelter where members of the caravan stayed] and woke up early in the morning to get my number at Enclave Caracol [a community center supporting migrants]. They just asked for my personal information and gave me my number. I was told I would have to wait a month or two and would have to continuously ask which numbers were being called to know when my number was up.
“I met a woman while getting my number who knew the shelters well, and she asked me where I was staying. I told her I really didn’t have a solid place, so she paid for my Uber and brought me here to the Baptist church. I was very happy to be here. The pastors received me with such love. They gave me clothes and footwear. I felt like I was in heaven! They also warned me about Tijuana, saying it was very dangerous and I had to be very careful. They mentioned kidnappings and cartels, so I got scared. I also asked them how I could go about working, and they explained I needed a visa and proper documentation. That made me feel depressed and sad, but the pastor was quick to reassure me I would be well taken care of at the church for as long as I needed to get back on my feet. He also said that friends could likely get me a job in construction, even though I lacked the necessary paperwork, and they could also find me my own place. I lived in the shelter for six months.
“I looked for work often, and after three months of living in the shelter, I found a job at an Oxxo [a convenience store chain, similar to 7-Eleven] through one of the congregants of the church. The congregant spoke to his boss and put a good word in for me. I was able to work there for three months, mostly as a painter. I was paid 250 MEX ($13.14) a day in cash. With that, I started to save up. Once I had enough money, I started to rent my own room. I knew the pastor had grown fond of me, so one day, I thanked him for everything and explained I had grown feathers along the way and was ready to fly. I wanted to be independent. He told me I was welcome in the church and the shelter whenever. I have now been living alone for one month.
“Living on my own has been a battle of its own, but I am getting to work a lot with young people. There are many young people where I live. To distract ourselves, we get together and read the bible, and we live without vice. It was very hard to find a room around here because most rooms are rented out in US dollars. How are we expected to make dollars here in Tijuana? Whenever I would go looking for a room, I would be told, ‘It costs $500 a month,’ or, ‘It costs $800 a month.’ Wow! Where am I supposed to find that kind of money? Where? I started crying and became so sad. Nevertheless, there are always Mexican comrades that come through. I was told by my Mexican comrades to say I was their family member, their cousin. And, well, I could pass off as Mexican,” Alex laughed. “I didn’t like to lie because that’s a sin, but I asked God for forgiveness since I had no other choice. The alternative was to sleep out on the street where I could be kidnapped or killed. Thanks to this Mexican comrade, I was able to get the room in which I currently live for 1,700 MEX ($89.37).
“The room was sloppy and neglected. I fixed it up, painted it, and added a few very nice details. Now I really like it there. I have been able to get ahead with great effort. I have been working for the same person as a construction worker for three months. He pays me 1,600 MEX ($84.11) a week. He marvels at what I can do, always saying, ‘I don’t know what I am going to do when you leave for the US.’ I try to explain to him that it’s just something I have to do since my life here isn’t safe. Meanwhile, in the US, there is safety, civil protection, and all of that. I know that life in the US is not easy. You suffer there, too. But at least I won’t have to worry about being kidnapped or assaulted. Here, I don’t even have documentation, which makes me more vulnerable to being kidnapped.
“I have also been in great health. Recently I got sick, but it was just the chickenpox. It hit me bad, and I could not afford to go to a doctor or a clinic. My lawyer sent me money from the US so I could go to a clinic and get better. My lawyer also found some psychologists from the US to treat me. They were a big, big help! They helped ease my mind, and I am so grateful to them. I found my lawyer through a person from the US who often comes to the church to help the migrants.
“When I left for my first court date to the US, I was sure I wasn’t coming back. I requested the help of three other men and went to the store to buy cakes, chicken, and drinks. I spent a good amount of money. I wanted to have a big going-away party! People cheered for me, and some cried. It was wonderful. Of course, I came back, and the pastor still laughs at me for making a big deal of that party. But I tell the migrants, learn! Learn from this, share, don’t be stingy. We are seeing how God has blessed us with being alive. Let’s celebrate and help one another.
“Having a lawyer to represent me has led to big changes. Immigration authorities now respect me whenever I cross to the other side for my court hearings. The second time I went to court in the US was in March. That time, the judge said he would give my attorney five months to come up with all the evidence and get everything in order for my last court date, in August. Next time I go, the judge will decide whether I am allowed to stay in the US or have to be returned to Tijuana. Everything you confess must be true, and my lawyer has all the evidence to show my story is, in fact, true. The judges in the US carry out an investigation for each case, and that is something that, as migrants, we must understand well.
“I think if they say I can’t stay in the US,” Alex paused for a few seconds, “I think that would be a big blow. It would be very hard, but I have the support of a lawyer who will tell me what I have to do. She knows the justice system in the US. She knows US law. If I am denied asylum, I must then go to court again to see what can be done. For now, we just have to wait for the judge’s verdict. I don’t know what the decision will be, but my faith in God makes me believe the judge will say I can stay. I will not lose hope. I will not let my faith wane. If I am sent back to Tijuana, I will continue to fight until I accomplish my goal. This is a battle for the brave. This isn’t a battle for just anyone.
“There are some fellow countrymen who have been returned to Tijuana and provided their next court date in six or seven months. What do they do? They return to Honduras. By returning, they are saying they don’t really have any problems in their country. I, on the other hand, can’t afford to do that, as I do have serious problems back home. I left Honduras because I love my life and I want to be at peace. A lot of people have returned to their country, though. I have seen many women crying, saying, ‘I’m going back. I’m going back,’ and they leave. They receive money from relatives in the US, and with that, they return to their country.
“If someone is returned and they don’t feel like they can survive in Tijuana, they need to keep working. Wash cars, sell oranges, sell juice—anything—but find ways, find solutions. They shouldn’t just give up and go back to their country. That is what I would say to those who actually have problems back home. Just because they’re in Mexico doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to survive. In Tijuana, you can survive by working. If someone really is facing problems in their country, they would rather die here in Tijuana than go back to their country. I thank God that I was able to leave my country alive. Here I am, praying, attending church, and devoting myself to God. I will not rest until my life is at peace.
“And so, I continue moving forward. Today, I went shopping and bought myself a pair of shoes—something for me. I only had shoes for church, and I wanted a pair of tennis shoes to wear with jeans. When you have no vice, you can make ends meet. You survive. There are moments when I don’t have enough food—I won’t lie—but what I do is buy milk and bananas, and make myself a milkshake. Well, I call it a milkshake, but I don’t have a blender. So, what I do is chop up the bananas and add them to boiled milk. That’s breakfast. I take vitamins and saline solutions to remain healthy. I have also been getting my shots regularly. All the vaccines and shots are provided to us for free here at the church. A medical brigade shows up and takes care of us. They vaccinate us against tetanus and measles.
“Things have become much harder for those trying to leave Honduras now. Getting to Mexico is increasingly challenging, and if one manages to get here, it is almost impossible to find a lawyer who will represent you. For those of us who are here, we have to continue working hard and fighting. We can’t be cowards. We have to remain strong, and soon the day will come when they and I will be able to live in the United States.”
On August 10, 2019, I received a text message from Alex, letting me know he had been granted asylum in the US and was now residing “on the other side.” He was among the first Central American migrants to be granted asylum since the Remain in Mexico program was put in place. The US government threatened to appeal the court’s decision to grant him asylum, but that has not stopped Alex from holding his faith close and believing he won the war. Alex checks in every couple of months and has even reached out, requesting help for fellow friends and migrants stranded in Tijuana. He is very happy with his new life in the U.S.