Back to Honduras

Last year I read a book called Enrique's Journey. It is a true story about a Honduran boy trying to illegally make his way to the United States. His mother had gone to the states several years earlier in order to get a job and send money back to her family. She left her kids with other family members and did send money back to them. Enrique wanted to go to the U.S. to find his mother.



The book tells of the hardships of trying to get to the states. He, like other illegal immigrants are caught and returned to Honduras, usually multiple times. The Hondurans that try this have to hop trains and travel in stifling hot boxcars or on the tops of the trains. They go days without food, water and bathing. They spend much of their time hiding or running from authorities. Many other difficulties were described. Most think all of the risks and hardships are well worth it, IF they can get to the states.



Today Marc's parents were leaving. We were upstairs in the airport with them. I saw an Xtra Airways plane land on the runway. I had never heard of that airline and Marc said it was a charter. I guessed, wrongly, that it was a mission group coming in to do work for a week.



The first passenger off the plane was handcuffed. Not what we usually see when mission groups arrive. Then came several U.S. marshalls. I stood at the window and watched each passenger disembark. Most were men in their twenties or thirties. Just a very few women. No one was carrying anything with them and there was no luggage to unload. This was a plane full of illegal immigrants that had been caught and were being returned to Honduras.



The marshalls were positioned at strategic positions all around the plane as it was serviced in preparation for another leg. One of the marshalls had a camera taking pictures. I had to laugh. As beautiful as this country is, the Tegucigalpa airport is not the most scenic spot in the country.



When the plane was ready to leave, no new passengers boarded. Just the marshalls got back on the plane.



As I watched them come off the plane, I wondered what each one's story was. Obviously, at least one was running from the law. Others may have been also. Some were probably running from some type of problem. Others were hoping to find a job in U.S. in order to be able to send money home to a wife and kids, parents, brothers, sisters. Hopes of providing food and education. Perhaps money for a needed surgery. Others were trying to escape unemployment and hunger and homelessness.



I am not saying I condone illegally entering another country, but I was saddened to think of the poverty, the hunger, the hopelessness that caused people to leave their kids, their parents, their homes, taking nothing with them and risk life itself for, what they believe, a better life of hope and of feeding families that remain in Honduras.



I have read other things besides Enrique's Journey. I guarantee some of those returnees were on a bus to Guatemala to try once again to get to the United States, the land of hope, before the plane was serviced and off the ground. Some may make it a bit further next time. Many of them will be returned many more times. Some will die trying and very few will make it into the United States.



I know things are bad for many in the states now, but to many, it is better than where they are now and getting there is the only hope for a better life.



Terri