Enrique’s Journey: 6. A Dark River, Perhaps a New Life Summary & Analysis

On May 21, 2000, Enrique waits with two other migrants, a Mexican brother and sister, at the beginning of the journey across the river with El Tiríndaro. On the other side of the river, a U.S. Border Patrol tower aims its cameras out over the water, and patrol vehicles move across the far riverbank in the night The three migrants all strip down to their underwear and pack their clothes into plastic bags to keep them dry. El Tiríndaro loads the two Mexicans into a tube and brings them to a small island in the middle of the river. He then comes back for Enrique. The Rio Grande, called the Rio Bravo at this location, is dangerous. The current is strong and there are whirlpools. Nazario notes that fifty-four migrants have died this year alone trying to cross the Rio Bravo at this spot. Enrique cannot swim and, terrified, grips onto the tube. As they cross the river, an SUV flashing red and blue lights is visible. Finally they arrive at the island safely. From the SUV, agents shine spotlights on the island. Everyone huddles on the ground and waits.

Nazario reports that if caught, authorities can deport migrants back to their home countries. First, though, they usually send them, in shackles to a Texas jail, where the conditions are extremely poor, few of the guards speak Spanish, and the migrant children are held for an indeterminate amount of time. Many become desperate and even suicidal. As Enrique waits, his mind fills with dread about what could happen. But after half an hour, the agents depart, and El Tiríndaro takes the migrants across the rest of the river. Enrique is standing on U.S. soil, but El Tiríndaro quickly leads them to a freezing, sewage-filled, tributary of the river so that they won’t be seen by Border Patrol. They dress quickly in the dry clothes from their plastic bags, and El Tiríndaro gives them a bit of food. Then he leads them, running over a steep embankment until they reach a residential street.

As they reach the street, a Chevy Blazer that has been waiting for them flashes its lights. They jump in, and are greeted by a man and woman who are contacts of El Tiríndaro's in his network of smugglers. The vehicle has pillows in the back, and Enrique soon falls asleep sleeps, but is woken when they are approaching a checkpoint. The migrants have to get out of the car, walk around the checkpoint, and get back in the car on the other side. Once back in the car, Enrique again falls asleep. When he wakes up, El Tiríndaro has left. The driver takes him to a house where he changes into American clothing and calls his mother.

In North Carolina, Lourdes, worried sick about Enrique, waits to hear from her son. She has not been able to sleep and has spent the night praying for his safety. She receives a call from the female smuggler asking for $500 more than the original price. Skeptical, Lourdes asks to speak to Enrique. When she has confirmation that he is there, she wires the money. The smugglers take Enrique to Orlando, where Lourdes' boyfriend picks him up. On the morning of May 28th, having traveled over 12,000 miles over 122 days, Enrique rushes into his mother’s trailer, where she is in bed, and embraces her.

Nazario reflects on Enrique's journey and points out that his story is real, not fictional. Though stories typically end with reunions that lead to peace and joy, and many children in his situation dream of reuniting with their mothers, the reality of the reunion is not always as they imagine. Children often feel resentment for being abandoned as well as resentment toward the new families their mothers have formed, while their mother often want recognition for the sacrifice they made in leaving in the first place. The children, after an initial period, sometimes end up turning to drugs, early marriages, or join gangs.

Enrique and Lourdes fit this pattern. The first day is joyful, just as they expected. They talk about family and watch television. Enrique gets a job as a house painter, and buys gifts for his half-sister Diana. Soon, however, he and Lourdes begin to argue. She pushes him to learn English, while he doesn’t want her telling him what to do. Another day, one of Lourdes’s roommates rejects a collect call from Maria Isabel. Enrique, furious, packs to leave. A tremendous fight with Lourdes ensues, and he ends up spending the night in a cemetery. It doesn’t take long for them to make up, but the tensions persist.

Not long after, on a phone call back home, Enrique learns that Maria Isabel is pregnant. On November 2, 2000, she gives birth to their daughter, Katerin Jasmin. Maria Isabel and Enrique decide that when they can afford it she should come to the United States and leave the baby in the care of her aunt, so that she can help send money home to support Jasmin.