September 8th, 2000

These past 3 weeks have been busy; I’ve had no time to write because I’ve either been on the move, resting, or hiding. At around noon today, I arrived in Los Angeles. I’m happy I actually made it because if I hadn’t the 25,000 pesos that we saved up for my help across the border would’ve been of no use because I would still have no chance for a good paying job. We arranged for a coyote to help get me across. He got a car and drove me but near Tucson that night the policias caught us and arrested us. We should have been more careful. The next day, they asked where we had come from and when we told them near Nogales, they dropped us off in the city. As soon as we were free, the coyote fled and I never saw him again. I felt as if I had failed the family but I knew that if I didn’t make it to California we would be doomed; Little Andrea, little Roberto, and Sarah would have barely and food or money to live. Over the next few days I took the water and food I would need to make the long journey across the Sonoran desert. The first few days were the slowest and the border patrol hampered my progress. Each time they came by I dove behind the nearest cover usually a rock, bush or hole. Two days after veering west of Tucson, was when I had my closest encounter. It was getting dark and it had been a quiet for the last day and a half so I wasn’t as careful or observant. I was walking out in the open when I heard the sound of a jeep and fortunately there was a small patch of desert grass. It was horrible cover but lucky for me, the three men in the jeep were drunk so they didn’t notice me. The next day I had my first big encounter with a snake. I must have made it mad because it would not back down. I was a giant desert snake and after a few minutes I was forced to kill it. I ate its meat shortly after because I didn’t want to have more to carry. Every day I slowly trudged along in that scorching heat. Besides the food and water I had stolen, I caught some mice to eat and cut open a few cacti for a drink. One day I was fortunate enough to catch a hare which gave me more meat than mice normally did. After I had gone far enough west, I headed north until I reached Phoenix. I actually guessed the distance but ended up very accurate. The nights were the bad, although they did give relief from the burning sun. They were cold and extremely lonely. At times I would be laying there wondering how the family was doing and thinking of how lonely I was. They were also very quite except for the howling of the coyotes the hooting of the owls. A few times I saw small groups of travelers but avoided them out of suspicion. From Phoenix, I  walked and hitched rides from people passing by until I made it here. The foot from Phoenix was fairly painless except for one time. I was hitchhiking and a man pulled up. When he realized I was Hispanic he began cursing me. Then he threatened me to leave the country, when I didn’t budge he roughed me up some. He must have noticed the passerby’s because he quickly drove off. It wasn’t too bad as I’m used to it from Mexico.