On the Rails to Uncertainty: The Harrowing Journey of Venezuelan Migrants

On the Rails to Uncertainty: The Harrowing Journey of Venezuelan Migrants

A Perilous Journey on ‘La Bestia’

For Johandri Pacheco, a 23-year-old Venezuelan migrant, the journey to a better life took a perilous turn when she went into labor on a northbound train known as “La Bestia”. Along with her partner, José Gregorio, and their 4-year-old son, Gael, Pacheco was journeying through Mexico in a bid to reach the United States. Their intent was to ensure that the birth of their second child, Mia, would occur on U.S. soil.

The family had patiently waited for five days in Irapuato for the train, their hopes pinned on reaching their destination before Pacheco’s labor commenced. The prospect of giving birth in Mexico filled Pacheco with dread, stemming from a belief that this could result in their deportation to the Guatemalan border and Mia being registered as a Guatemalan citizen.

From Caracas to Peru and Beyond

Pacheco’s journey started in a poor neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela. She migrated to Peru at the tender age of 18, eager to explore the world and carve her path. However, her hopes were marred by discrimination and economic hardships, eventually leading to her giving birth to her first child, Gael, in Peru.

By mid-2021, the high cost of living in Peru became insurmountable for Pacheco and her family. With less than $100 in her pocket, she decided to move to Chile, where she found work as a cleaning staff in a small clinic in Santiago and sold clothes for additional income. However, when the rent for her apartment shot up, Pacheco was faced with the grim prospect of returning to Venezuela.

A Grueling Journey Through Ten Countries

Pacheco and her family embarked on a daring journey to the United States. It was a voyage that spanned ten countries, including Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. They commenced their journey by bus from Chile to Capurganá, a Colombian town near the Panama border. From there, they navigated through the treacherous Darién jungle, a notorious site that had witnessed nearly 249,000 migrants in the first half of 2023, according to Panamanian authorities.

The journey posed formidable challenges, from threats of robbery to encounters with law enforcement due to lack of documentation. Despite these obstacles, the family persevered, eventually boarding “El Bolichero” in Irapuato, with the objective of reaching Matamoros, the final step before crossing into the United States. However, their journey took an unexpected turn when Pacheco went into labor on the train.

Hope and Uncertainty on the Rails

The labor added another layer of uncertainty to the family’s journey. The experience of Venezuelan migrants like Pacheco underscores the risks and challenges faced by countless individuals and families seeking a better life. The trials they endure, the risks they take, and the hopes they cling to, are testaments to the human spirit’s resilience in the face of adversity.

The journey of these migrants, fraught with danger and uncertainty, is a stark reminder of the pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform and the creation of safer, legal migration pathways. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing the root causes of migration, such as economic instability, violence, and lack of opportunities in home countries.