York School'S //

In 2013, 902,000 Guatemalans emigrated to the US, 28.5% of the total number of immigrants that entered the US (Migration Policy.org). Why are so many people fleeing Guatemala? In 2013 Guatemala was listed as one of the five most dangerous countries in the world (Restrepo). More than 75% of the national population lives below the poverty line and 42% of Guatemalan citizens don’t have access to clean water. Over half of children in Guatemala have chronic malnutrition and in some areas this number jumps up to over 90% (Poverty and Statistics). 60% of the country is controlled by drug trafficking gangs, and violence against women is on the rise: “Women are often found tortured, mutilated, raped, and dismembered, yet, more strikingly, 98% of those cases remain unsolved” (Guatemalan Human Rights Commission).

If you were fleeing Guatemala for the United States, what choices would you make for you and your family? Take our journey to understand the real dilemmas Guatemalan emigrants face.* 

First you must decide to travel by foot or vehicle. [NEED THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH HERE]