Markel Redondo

Photographer

In God's Hands

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Two migrants check a map at a m...America cross Mexico each year.

Two migrants check a map at a migrant shelter in Arriaga, Chiapas. It is estimated that half a million migrants from Central America cross Mexico each year.

Franklyn, from Honduras, has li... a train going north of Mexico.

Franklyn, from Honduras, has lived most of his life in the United States of America and was recently deported to Honduras. When he was trying to get back to the USA he was assaulted in Arriaga, Mexico, while waiting for a train going north of Mexico.

A migrant sleeps at the Casa de...their way to the United States.

A migrant sleeps at the Casa del Migrante (Migrant shelter) in Ixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year on their way to the United States.

A migrant prays at a church in Altar, near the Mexican-US border.

An estimate of 500.000 Central ...their way to the United States.

An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year on their way to the United States. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year on their way to the United States.

A migrant on a train in Palenqu...lso by the Mexican authorities.

A migrant on a train in Palenque, Mexico. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year and many of them suffer all kind of violations such as kidnapping, rape, robbery and extortion by the organized crime in Mexico and also by the Mexican authorities.

A migrant exercises at a migran...their way to the United States.

A migrant exercises at a migrant shelter in Arriaga, Chiapas, Mexico. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year on their way to the United States.

Delio, 17, from Honduras, was k...apped in this country by gangs.

Delio, 17, from Honduras, was kidnapped by the group Zetas and after was freed after his family paid 5000 USD. The National Human Rights Commission of Mexico reported that in 2009 nearly 10.000 migrants were kidnapped in this country by gangs.

A raft crosses the river Suchia...lso by the Mexican authorities.

A raft crosses the river Suchiate that separates Guatemala and Mexico and that many Central American migrants cross on their way to the US. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year and many of them suffer all kind of violations such as kidnapping, rape, robbery and extortion by the organized crime in Mexico and also by the Mexican authorities.

Edu Arturo, 17, from Honduras, ...ing of trying to reach the USA.

Edu Arturo, 17, from Honduras, suffered an accident while trying to catch a train in Mexico in his way to the United States of America. After losing his arm he has tried to reach the USA three more times and is now thinking of trying to reach the USA.

Jose Castro, from Honduras, wal...lso by the Mexican authorities.

Jose Castro, from Honduras, walks across the "arrocera" in Chiapas, one of the most dangerous places that Central Americans have to cross in order to reach the United States of America. In the "arrocera" migrants are often robbed and attacked by criminals. An estimate of 500.000 Central American migrants cross Mexico every year and many of them suffer all kind of violations such as kidnapping, rape, robbery and extortion by the organized crime in Mexico and also by the Mexican authorities.

Yamileth, from Honduras, left h...er way to the Mexico-US border.

Yamileth, from Honduras, left her country due to the violence suffered from her husband. After weeks traveling from Honduras towards the United States of America she suffered an accident while trying to catch a train in Lecheria, Mexico, on her way to the Mexico-US border.

A migrant sleeps among discarde...in tracks in Palenque, Chiapas.

A migrant sleeps among discarded rubbish next to the train tracks in Palenque, Chiapas.

A group of migrants on a train in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico.

Migrants reach out for blankets...sent to prison during 48 hours.

Migrants reach out for blankets at a provisional prison in Nogales, Mexico. Many migrants that are found without an ID card are sent to prison during 48 hours.

Luis, from El Salvador, speaks ...where he was recently deported.

Luis, from El Salvador, speaks to his daughters who are in the USA from where he was recently deported.

Three migrants walk at night ne...between Honduras and Guatemala.

Three migrants walk at night near the border between Honduras and Guatemala.

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Thumbnail of Two migrants check a map at a mi_ America cross Mexico each year.

Thumbnail of Franklyn, from Honduras, has liv_r a train going north of Mexico.

Thumbnail of A migrant sleeps at the Casa del_ their way to the United States.

Thumbnail of A migrant prays at a church in Altar, near the Mexican-US border.

Thumbnail of An estimate of 500.000 Central A_ their way to the United States.

Thumbnail of A migrant on a train in Palenque_also by the Mexican authorities.

Thumbnail of A migrant exercises at a migrant_ their way to the United States.

Thumbnail of Delio, 17, from Honduras, was ki_napped in this country by gangs.

Thumbnail of A raft crosses the river Suchiat_also by the Mexican authorities.

Thumbnail of Edu Arturo, 17, from Honduras, s_king of trying to reach the USA.

Thumbnail of Jose Castro, from Honduras, walk_also by the Mexican authorities.

Thumbnail of Yamileth, from Honduras, left he_her way to the Mexico-US border.

Thumbnail of A migrant sleeps among discarded_ain tracks in Palenque, Chiapas.

Thumbnail of A group of migrants on a train in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico.

Thumbnail of Migrants reach out for blankets _ sent to prison during 48 hours.

Thumbnail of Luis, from El Salvador, speaks t_ where he was recently deported.

Thumbnail of Three migrants walk at night nea_ between Honduras and Guatemala.

Public Project

In God's Hands

Updated Jan 2011

Topics central americans, Documentary, guatemala, honduras, human rights, immigration, mexico, migration

What most caught my attention was the desperation that drives a person to leave everything behind. I understood that migration is forced, that these people don’t have a choice. They leave their countries in order to survive.

Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans risk their lives each year trying to reach the United States. The UN estimates that some 25 million of them have now immigrated to the US. Most migrants these days come from Central America where poverty, lack of work and an ever increasing level of drug related violence is making daily life a struggle for many.

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