Other risks that people expose themselves to during this journey are snakebites, alligator bites and starvation. People literally walk the desserts and river with limited food and supplies. Sometimes the immigrants are taken to an isolated house where they are fed and provided with a roof to sleep under the first day. Dangerous waters to cross. Usually these journeys are made at night to avoid the border patrol.
Illegal immigrants trust their futures to coyotes, who are complete strangers.
There have been countless cases where the coyote breaks his deal and leaves people stranded in the desert without a clue on which way to go and without any food and water. Coyotes have raped many adult and young women in the loneliness of the desert and the darkness of the night. Guides have beaten men to death for their money or for trying to defend a female from sexual abuse. It is desperation that drives people out of their country and through these risks into the United States in search of a better life. To read other stories click Go to Main Page .