In Comitancillo, Guatemala, Glendy Aracely Ramirez prays every night for her family’s health and for the opportunity to reach the United States, following her sister Blanca’s tragic death in a smuggling trailer in Texas. With limited opportunities and little hope for a better future in their home village, many migrants, primarily Indigenous youths from the Western Highlands, are willing to take repeated risks to reach the United States. High poverty rates, meager wages, and limited access to education are key factors driving migration from the region, with many families relying on remittances from loved ones in the U.S. as their only source of income.
In the wake of multiple tragedies that have claimed the lives of local migrants, including the deaths in San Antonio and Camargo, the community of Comitancillo has faced immense grief and loss. Despite the risks involved, fear of remaining in Guatemala outweighs the fear of pursuing the dangerous journey to the United States. The Jesuit Migration Network has been a source of support and assistance for affected families, providing legal updates, psychological and pastoral care, and ongoing guidance for those seeking to migrate.
The impact of migration on families is profound, with many facing the loss of loved ones like Celestina Carolina, who died en route to the U.S. at age 23. Families are left grappling with financial challenges, emotional trauma, and the uncertainty of their future. While some individuals, like Aracely Florentina Marroquin, hope to build a better life through education and working in the United States, the journey often brings unforeseen risks and tragedies, leaving families devastated and struggling to cope.
Ursula Roldan, a researcher at Rafael Landivar University, emphasizes the economic pressures and debt burdens that drive many families to risk their lives in pursuit of a better future. With minimal job prospects in their local communities, limited access to education, and rising violence in neighboring regions, migrants are increasingly compelled to seek opportunities in the United States. Climate change also threatens their subsistence farming livelihoods, further heightening the need to explore migration as a means of survival.
The profound loss suffered by families like Marcelina Tomas, who mourns the death of her son Anderson Pablo in Camargo, reflects the ongoing struggles and sacrifices faced by migrants in pursuit of a better life. Despite the challenges and risks involved, families like Marcelina’s continue to pray for strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The deep-rooted desire to provide for their families and create a better future remains a driving force behind many migrants’ decision to embark on the perilous journey to the United States, despite the inherent dangers and uncertainties that lie ahead.
