Readers of this blog may recall a July 16 post that reported on the abuses suffered by Central Americans at the hands of Mexican officials on their way to the United States as illegal immigrants. The post told the story of Miguel Angel, who left his $300-a-month job as a policeman in Salvador, made a miserable journey to the Rio Grande, crossed in a raft to the United States and joined friends in Maryland. There he worked in construction for about a year before returning home.
A few weeks ago, I received a call from Times of London reporter Hannah Strange, who subsequently contacted Miguel Angel. Now she has written this story about Miguel Angel and the horrific exploitation of Central Americans in their journey to the U.S. border.
I spoke with Miguel Angel yesterday. He lives with his wife, son and in-laws in a sugar-mill town near San Salvador. He has a small welding business. He said work is scarce, but he is getting by. He is still working with a university professor in San Salvador to publish a book about his experiences coming to the United States.
