I am a farmer but my land has been hit by two hurricanes which washed away part of my land’s soil and landslides dumped rocky worthless soil and rocks on the rest. My house was destroyed and two of my children were lost.

            Since I couldn’t farm any more I moved the rest of us into the city. Most of my surviving neighbors went too. We tried to find good jobs but unemployment was already high so I could only get an occasional low paying day job. They barely pay the rent on the shack we could afford. We often go without a meal so the kids can have something each day.

            My sons go to school but the way to school is through several gang territories. They are often confronted with the gang members saying join or die. Many of the older kids have run away, hid, or died because they didn’t want to join. Murder and kidnapping are common. The people can’t help the honest cops who are brave enough to try to apprehend the criminals for fear of being the next victims. Judges often let the gang members off because they know gang threats are real.

            The gangs that were exported from Los Angeles to my country have as much control as the corrupt government. They are vicious killers with no regard or compassion for the people.

            What would you do if you were that person? Would you take your family to a safer place or at least send your children to a safer place? This story is what has happened to tens of thousands of Central American families.