Child Victims of Central American Cartels: Fleeing to the US Border | Immigration Crisis Documentary

They’re nicknamed ‘The Dreamers’. Teenagers from Honduras and El Salvador, ready to face all types of dangers to escape the horrific violence of gangs in Central America. They know that the journey could cost them their lives but they will risk anything to make it to America.

Every month, more than 5,000 unaccompanied children are arrested in the United States after crossing the Mexican border. Joao and Anthony, both 15 and from Honduras, have decided to jump a freight train from Mexico. But on the American side of the border, heavily armed private militia hunt migrants in the desert. They also run the real risk of getting lost in the desert and dying of thirst – a fate that befalls thousands every year. And young girls attempting the crossing are prey to the cartels, who force them into prostitution.

More than 130,000 children were arrested in the past years for attempting the crossing. How many others disappeared on the road to the American Dream?

This documentary was produced by Premiere Lignes and directed by Sandrine Rigaud. It was first released in 2018.

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[Gumorisco]

We were these people our mom bought us to the U.S. back in 2000... me bieng 7 years old my brother 5 yeara old and sister 10 years old... my mom would get beaten by my dads side of the family... every day they would come to hit her... my real dad wouldn't defend our mom he would just sit on the chair with his arms crossed as our mom layed on the ground sometimes she would run away to not get hit and us 3 would sit waiting through the cold night crying for our mom to come home... ill never forget those cold nights that we spent... outside crying ... our mom had enough of it so she decided to just go for it and bring us over here to the U.S... no one helped us not even police they were corrupt that they didnt even do sh*t to my dads family... us bieng young we couldnt defend our mom we were just little kids... who weee abused and hit... we crossed the desert slept under trees where there were snakes... crossed the rio bravo river ... stayed for a week in the desert... waiting to be crosssed... so many people have the audacity to judge us mexicans... that why are we crossing illegally.. or that we are taking over american jobs... when they dont know where we come from... how our lifes are its easy to judge when none of yall have been through our situation... none of you guys would survive in a place where theres hardly good paying jobs where laws are corrupted.... where theres violence and crime happening every day that your scared to even go outside ... of your home... crossing the desert is no joke back then it was simple now its harder so many killings happening.. so many women bieng raped...and killed ... people bieng kidnapped.. we been through it before when we were coming the person who was bringing us had kidnapped us my mom was scared she didnt know how to escape... eventually we got away and made ir safely to the U.S.A. my story is long but now im grateful that i get to sleep in a comfy bed im grateful that i have a good paying job... that i have food every day and dont have to starve.. i thank god and my mom for protecting us doing every thing she could just to see us grow happy...

[aldrinvargas]

They found the courage to rally in a foreign land for what they call theirs and their offspring rights to stay legally out from illegal migration and yet never had a single courage to fight for a better life from their home country.

[JuanRamirez-xwqk]

Something was said in this documentary that is wrong, children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States are indeed US citizens by law! The narrator explained otherwise and he is sadly mistaken, in fact children of undocumented Mexican immigrants born in the US have dual citizenship! Cheers!

[karolinarios]

These documentaries break my heart. How sad to see that so much poverty and violence make these young people migrate and take all this risk, with such a high chance of suffering something bad on the way and such a low chance of arriving on American soil... Congratulations for the excellent work of showing this reality more current than ever. Sending love from Brazil 🇧🇷❤️

[maryfaye]

How in the world do they think that USA can take care of them all. America have lots of their own American Citizens children that must be taken care of. The same way that they fight to come to USA. They must fight to straighten out their own country. Then you can make your dream's come true in your own

[Tennis--sutj]

No country would want to have non legal immigrants and bear unnecessary burden.

[tessieallahverdi]

As long as there are people helping these migrants they will keep coming... They need to deport all of them ...we have to pay their way by paying higher taxes..

[mariaelda]

It should not matter what age, if they are illegal then don't let them in or don't let them stay. That's why they come as teens or parents drop their infants off the border walls because they know these minors get to stay. 👎

[salmahkadir]

They should struggle to improve their country rather risking their life trying to get into another countriy.

[mapcec]

Young children are victims of the stupidity of their own families and grown children are victims of their own stupidity.

[khadijah]

How are these children going to fight the cartels?! Most of y'all's children won't even get up and go to school on their own! Hateful & disrespectful people! God Bless ALL the Children, Ameen🌺

[DaFonz]

These kids put their life on the line for just a chance at getting a job here in America. Our American teens just wanna do tik tok.😂🕺🎼

[kyongwilson]

Such a mess situation, how on earth these people are seeking for legalization of this kind of stuff?
They are breaking the this country sovereign law, if they are believing that corrupt politicians will help them?
That sounds like a real dream.

[sandramarkey]

And what kind of work does a US 15 year old do to legally work to earn pocket change. I don't hear any mention of US work ethic for minors. Publicize that.

[Lucyinthskyy]

28:07 lots of misinformation there . Any person born on US soil is an American citizen wether they’re parents are ilegal or not 🙄. Come on that’s very basic info .

[lilliansanders]

Why don’t these corrupt government give these people & teenagers jobs so they don’t have to take this dangerous journey

[nicolarollinson]

Very sad. Better they are arrested and sent back home..
That ancle bracelet must be so uncomfortable

[Eccentric_Villain]

With hind sight, this Documentary makes One’s stomach drop. My heart breaks for all these families that just want a better life, no matter what.

[CarlosOrtiz]

They are not Mexican they are Salvadoran or Guatemala

[romanortiz]

Why they don fight honduras carteles they have to fighta to make home sale