Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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Mexico's Southern Border is "The Beast"
Phoenix, Arizona - In the United Stated many people refer to them
derogatively as “illegals”. In the heart of Central America, these
human beings represent some of the most disposed, desperate yet
tenacious men and women leaving their impoverished countries in
hopes to make it to the United States.
Unable to afford another form of transportation but also seeking to
avoid Mexican immigration checkpoints, thousands of Central
American nationals from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras or Nicaragua, dangerously and boldly hop on top of moving
freight trains going from southern Mexico to many northern
destinations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Prior to hopping on top of the treacherous train cars, Central
Americans first have to defy the Suchiate River that serves as border
between Guatemala and Mexico, go through its muddy banks, risk
assaults, muggings and rapes. If they are able to overcome all these
obstacles, the biggest of all challenges is still ahead: getting on the
sordid, brutal moving train cars.
This scenario, along some of the most heartbreaking stories of
human drama, is what Mexican journalist and filmmaker Pedro
Ultreras (7 Soles, 2008) presents in a new documentary called "La
Bestia” (Spanish for The Beast). “The Beast” is the name Central
American migrants give to the freight trains– thus the name of
Ultreras’ amazing work. “The Beast” also has the dark reputation of
being “The train of death.”
Ultrera’s merit consists mostly in riding on top of the freight trains
with the migrants, capturing the perilous journey just as these men
and women riding “La Bestia” experience it. Nevertheless, the
intrinsic value of this promising filmmaker’s documentary is to expose
the tragic reality of thousands of people who desperately try to flee
the ravaging conditions in their home countries.
La Bestia –the documentary– is an accurate visual testimony that
undeniably communicates in a brutal language the travails migrants
go through in their frantic attempt to escape their misery. Many in
the U.S. see these migrants as a nuisance, invaders, criminals and so
forth. La Bestia presents them in its most inherent perspective as
some of the most deprived human beings willing to risk not just their
safety but their very lives in hopes to arrive to a country where their
idea of an American Dream often turns into another overwhelming
experience.
In filming the testimonies of some Central American migrants, Pedro
Ultreras exposes more than the dangers they face. If La Bestia
shows the brutality of Mexico’s southern border, it also offers the
compassion found in shelters for migrants and the bonds that
develop among the men and women who share the same ride and
misfortune.
Mexico catching up with immigration laws
Just a month ago, in February 2011, the Mexican Senate approved
the first immigration law of the country. While it may be hard to
believe, up until now, Mexico did not have a specific law to deal with
immigration issues. The Mexican government approached
immigration-related problems by using general population laws.
A new Immigration Act was unanimously passed by the Senate
where for the first time recognizes the legal status of foreign
migrants. This legislative move recognizes that foreigners have the
right to education, emergency medical services, civil registration and
the administration of justice regardless of their immigration status.
In terms of punishment for human smugglers or “coyotes”, the Act
establishes eight to 16 years in prison, and increases the penalty by
up to 50 percent when the accused is a public servant, and the
victims are children or teenagers.
The law also sets minimum conditions for migrants. Among those are:
avoiding confinement in prisons; preserve the family unit; and,
separating men from women. This new legislation prohibits the
verification visits to places of humanitarian assistance provided to
migrants.
The Immigration Act comes as a response to the gruesome massacre
of 72 immigrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, in eastern Mexico, on
Aug. 24, 2010. Mexican government officials stated it appeared the
migrants were slain for refusing to work for a drug cartel. Only one
migrant survived.
The massacre also led to the resignation on Sep. 15 of Mexico’s top
immigration official, Cecilia Romero, who came under fire and was
summoned to testify before the Mexican Senate.
The victims of the massacre were nationals of El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and Brazil. They were making their
way to the United States through Mexico's territory, just like many of
the migrants Pedro Ultreras presents in his documentary La Bestia.
derogatively as “illegals”. In the heart of Central America, these
human beings represent some of the most disposed, desperate yet
tenacious men and women leaving their impoverished countries in
hopes to make it to the United States.
Unable to afford another form of transportation but also seeking to
avoid Mexican immigration checkpoints, thousands of Central
American nationals from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras or Nicaragua, dangerously and boldly hop on top of moving
freight trains going from southern Mexico to many northern
destinations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Prior to hopping on top of the treacherous train cars, Central
Americans first have to defy the Suchiate River that serves as border
between Guatemala and Mexico, go through its muddy banks, risk
assaults, muggings and rapes. If they are able to overcome all these
obstacles, the biggest of all challenges is still ahead: getting on the
sordid, brutal moving train cars.
This scenario, along some of the most heartbreaking stories of
human drama, is what Mexican journalist and filmmaker Pedro
Ultreras (7 Soles, 2008) presents in a new documentary called "La
Bestia” (Spanish for The Beast). “The Beast” is the name Central
American migrants give to the freight trains– thus the name of
Ultreras’ amazing work. “The Beast” also has the dark reputation of
being “The train of death.”
Ultrera’s merit consists mostly in riding on top of the freight trains
with the migrants, capturing the perilous journey just as these men
and women riding “La Bestia” experience it. Nevertheless, the
intrinsic value of this promising filmmaker’s documentary is to expose
the tragic reality of thousands of people who desperately try to flee
the ravaging conditions in their home countries.
La Bestia –the documentary– is an accurate visual testimony that
undeniably communicates in a brutal language the travails migrants
go through in their frantic attempt to escape their misery. Many in
the U.S. see these migrants as a nuisance, invaders, criminals and so
forth. La Bestia presents them in its most inherent perspective as
some of the most deprived human beings willing to risk not just their
safety but their very lives in hopes to arrive to a country where their
idea of an American Dream often turns into another overwhelming
experience.
In filming the testimonies of some Central American migrants, Pedro
Ultreras exposes more than the dangers they face. If La Bestia
shows the brutality of Mexico’s southern border, it also offers the
compassion found in shelters for migrants and the bonds that
develop among the men and women who share the same ride and
misfortune.
Mexico catching up with immigration laws
Just a month ago, in February 2011, the Mexican Senate approved
the first immigration law of the country. While it may be hard to
believe, up until now, Mexico did not have a specific law to deal with
immigration issues. The Mexican government approached
immigration-related problems by using general population laws.
A new Immigration Act was unanimously passed by the Senate
where for the first time recognizes the legal status of foreign
migrants. This legislative move recognizes that foreigners have the
right to education, emergency medical services, civil registration and
the administration of justice regardless of their immigration status.
In terms of punishment for human smugglers or “coyotes”, the Act
establishes eight to 16 years in prison, and increases the penalty by
up to 50 percent when the accused is a public servant, and the
victims are children or teenagers.
The law also sets minimum conditions for migrants. Among those are:
avoiding confinement in prisons; preserve the family unit; and,
separating men from women. This new legislation prohibits the
verification visits to places of humanitarian assistance provided to
migrants.
The Immigration Act comes as a response to the gruesome massacre
of 72 immigrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, in eastern Mexico, on
Aug. 24, 2010. Mexican government officials stated it appeared the
migrants were slain for refusing to work for a drug cartel. Only one
migrant survived.
The massacre also led to the resignation on Sep. 15 of Mexico’s top
immigration official, Cecilia Romero, who came under fire and was
summoned to testify before the Mexican Senate.
The victims of the massacre were nationals of El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and Brazil. They were making their
way to the United States through Mexico's territory, just like many of
the migrants Pedro Ultreras presents in his documentary La Bestia.
By Eduardo Barraza March 24, 2011
The documentary "The Beast"
exposes the tragic reality of
thousands of people who
desperately try to flee the ravaging
conditions in their home countries.
Photo courtesy of Pedro Ultreras
exposes the tragic reality of
thousands of people who
desperately try to flee the ravaging
conditions in their home countries.
Photo courtesy of Pedro Ultreras
| Related Links |
| Trailer of "The Beast" |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
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