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by Yvonne Francisco
(Article originally published in Spanish by Lowell Corazon Latino newspaper. The author and publisher, Yvonne Francisco, began her journalism career in the Dominican Republic in 2004 and prior to founding Lowell Corazon Latino, was as a Freelance Journalist at El Mundo Boston and author of the book A Beast in the Silence)
Lowell – For many, migration offers the hope of better opportunities, but for others, it represents a desperate measure. Such was the case for Ana (a fictitious name to protect her identity), a Dominican mother who, overwhelmed by economic hardship, embarked on a perilous journey to the United States. Ana left behind her homeland, two of her three children, and a broken family life, hoping to build a safer, more prosperous future for her young daughter and her family.
An Unsustainable Life in the Dominican Republic
Ana and her husband had built a life together in Santo Domingo, where he worked as a trader, and she had been employed in telemarketing for 17 years at the same company. One day, the owner asked her to resign, claiming he couldn’t afford to pay her anymore. Despite these setbacks, Ana and her husband didn’t give up. They continued struggling, but circumstances turned against them. A flood in November of last year destroyed their family business, leaving them in ruins. Debt mounted, as did the economic troubles that threatened their stability.
Ana explains that the situation became so dire that they could no longer afford to pay the mortgage on their home. That was when they decided to leave everything behind, including their 9- and 10-year-old children. “We took out high-interest loans, and in the end, we had no choice but to emigrate. We left behind debts, our home, even a vehicle,” Ana says, her eyes brimming with tears. She had to say goodbye to her older children, a choice that she describes as “the most painful sacrifice of my life.”
A Cousin’s Promise of a Better Future
Despite the risks, Ana and her husband were encouraged to leave for the United States by a cousin who promised help and well-paying jobs. With the hope of earning around $20 an hour, a sum unimaginable in her country, they decided to make the journey. But upon arriving in the United States, the reality was starkly different. “We weren’t hired because we don’t speak English,” Ana shares with LCL, her voice breaking.
What was meant to be a hopeful end turned out to be anything but. The journey through Central America, which they were told would be entirely by car due to the payment they made, turned into days of crossing rivers and mountains, suffering from hunger, thirst, and despair. Arriving in the U.S., their situation was nothing like they had imagined.
A Journey Filled with Peril and Threats
The trek, which started in El Salvador and crossed through Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, cost them roughly a million Dominican pesos.
But the financial cost wasn’t the hardest part—it was the constant danger and the fear that something terrible might happen to them at any moment. Ana recalls crossing rivers, trekking through mountains, and spending weeks in makeshift shelters, all while fearing for the safety of her 3-year-old daughter and for the cash they carried to pay the smugglers (called Coyotes), around $700 at each border.
During one part of the journey, their driver ordered them out of the vehicle, fearing they might be stopped by border patrol. They had to wade through thickets and were later picked up again. The driver sped recklessly to avoid being caught, adding another layer of danger. The trip became even more distressing when they reached Mexico, where they were warned about kidnappings and other threats. They had to stay together constantly to avoid being abducted for ransom.
At one point, Ana and her family were told they needed more money to continue or else they’d be stranded. “We waited 22 days, praying we’d make it out safely,” Ana recounts, describing how her daughter went hungry. They ran out of money, falling $1,500 short to complete their journey. Family members in the Dominican Republic raised the funds to help them make the final payment to cross the imposing border wall between Mexico and the United States.
Distant Threats and Crippling Debt
Alongside the immediate threats they faced, Ana and her family couldn’t ignore the debts they’d left behind in the Dominican Republic. “The person we owe money to has threatened our children and my mother back home,” she admits, adding emotional and psychological strain to their already exhausting situation. “Not knowing if my children are safe or if they’ll be hurt because of our debt—it’s something that keeps me up at night.”
The debt, which has led to these threats, is around RD $250,000 (roughly $4,500 USD).
Arrival in the U.S.: The End or the Beginning of Another Struggle?
Arriving in the United States, which should have been a relief, turned into another chapter of hardship. After crossing the border, Ana, her husband, and their daughter were detained in a holding facility. There, they spent hours in cold, unwelcoming conditions, wrapped in a thin foil blanket that provided little warmth. “We were freezing, just wanting to get out so we could start again,” Ana remembers.
They were later moved to a shelter in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where conditions were only slightly better. In these shelters, they shared cramped spaces with dozens of people. “They’d send us out early in the morning, and there were no bathrooms inside. There was one bathroom shared by men, women, and children, which was some distance away. We bathed after 9 p.m., and sometimes we slept on the floor,” Ana recalls.
They also faced health problems. “Both my daughter and husband fell ill. It was a difficult experience, especially with the uncertainty and constant fear.” Her daughter still has visible marks on one hand from a fungal infection she contracted in a shelter.
Depression and Hope for a Better Future
Ana confesses that the difficulties have plunged her into deep depression, one that’s hard to bear far from home, without the security of a job, and not knowing when she’ll see her children again. “I don’t know if any of this will be worth it, but I can’t let my daughter grow up in the same situation we were trapped in back in Santo Domingo.”
Now, Ana is searching for work to secure a roof over their heads and build the future they dreamed of before leaving. They are living in a room somebody rented to them, but the conditions there are not the best. In addition to the payment they have to make, which is not enough with what the husband earns right now. Though life in the U.S. is harsh, and the promises of employment and stability fade amid the challenges, this Dominican mother clings to the hope of a better future for her family.
Sacrifice and Survival
Ana’s story reflects the pain and sacrifice that many migrants endure. They’re not just statistics; they are parents and children risking everything to give their loved ones a chance at a better life. With a divided heart and relentless determination, Ana presses on, sustained by the hope that one day, her sacrifices will pay off.
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No Money to Pay a Lawyer
Ana is currently unemployed, her American dream seeming more distant with each passing day as she waits for a judge’s decision that could grant her time to work and earn money to pay her debt back home and, most importantly, reunite her family. But, they don’t have money to pay a lawyer.
Despite her struggle and the enormous sacrifice to reach the U.S., Ana and her husband face a new challenge: the lack of resources to cover their legal defense. Like many migrant families, Ana and her husband lack the funds to hire a lawyer to help navigate the complex immigration process. “We’ve spent everything we had to get here, and now we feel trapped,” Ana confesses. Without legal representation, they remain vulnerable, with limited chances of staying safely and legally in the country.
Regrets
When asked if she would embark on the same journey again, Ana answers firmly: no, never again. For those with steady work and food at home, she advises them to stay because life in the U.S. isn’t as easy as many portray it or others imagine for people in their situation.
Ana, like many immigrants, has tasted the bitter reality of harsh challenges. The language barrier, lack of work, discrimination, legal struggles, and separation from loved ones all paint a bleak picture of a distant American dream that grows fainter with each hurdle she encounters.
How You Can Help
If you don’t know who to give to this holiday season, consider this family; become their Santa. Ana’s husband still wears the shoes he crossed the border in. Her daughter needs diapers and would love a doll. The family needs clothing, shoes, and warm coats. The smugglers forced them to abandon their few belongings to make the journey. To make a contribution, please contact Pastor Carmen Bermudez at Hope Dove Inc. on Kirk Street in Lowell by email info@hopedoveinc.org or by calling (978) 332-1707.
Background information: Torrential rains in the Dominican Republic in November 2023 resulted in 24 deaths and numerous floods. Record-breaking rainfall reached over 431 mm in just 24 hours. One of the most memorable tragedies during this period was the collapse of the overpass bridge on February 27 Avenue, claiming nine lives.
