Many migrants are not single men but families. High rates of violence, and corruption are a reality in Central America. El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala reportedly have the highest homicide rates in the world. When a gang threatens you or wants to recruit your son or daughter, there is nowhere to turn for help. The only recourse is to leave. Gang violence, years of drought, and drug smuggling force starving and desperate families to risk everything to survive. They are just hoping for a better life.
This picture shows how migrants are completely unprepared for the harsh desert terrain. A little girl with dreams of being a woman, wore her best thick-heeled shoes and carried a matching purse filled with makeup and lip gloss. At times, temperatures in the desert can be so extreme, even our volunteers' shoes become unglued.