The "Patronas" of Immigrants

The term patrona has several meanings. In masculine, it is used to refer to someone's boss or employer. In feminine, it has acquired the same meaning as the masculine as women are becoming leaders in business and obtaining positions of power. However, the oldest use of patrona is when you mention Mexico's Virgin of Guadalupe. She is the patrona or the boss of the people who so faithfully believe in her. She is the patrona because she helps people in need. The Basilica of Guadalupe, which is the most important church in Mexico, receives millions of believers to ask for a miracle, seek forgiveness, or to thank the patrona for her miracles. The term is very important, particularly in a country as religious as Mexico.

Due to the geographic location of Mexico, right at the border with the United States, many immigrants from central and south America have to cross the country in order to reach the border and have a chance for the infamous "american dream." For reasons unknown to me, immigration to Mexico is difficult, perhaps even more difficult than to the United States. Men and women from other countries that make the journey to the United States are considered criminals because Mexican laws make it almost impossible to enter the country legally. This journey, which lasts about a month, is a dangerous one because there are over 1500 kilometers, and immigrants must travel on top of cargo trains hiding from authorities. But jumping on moving trains is not the true danger. The danger is the threat of hunger, robbery, rape, and extortion from government authorities and drug cartels.

These men and women that want to get to the United States are suffering hunger and poverty in their home countries and they must work countless hours and borrow money from everyone in order to afford this voyage that can only be described as hell. They must have enough money to pay for food, bribe immigration authorities and, once at the border, pay someone to smuggle them into the United States. What they have is more than a fortune. It is all they have, all they owe, and the only opportunity for a better life. Because of this, they are targets of unmentionable crimes and are sometimes forced to involve themselves in criminal activities in order to stay alive.

Because of this, immigrants must face days and weeks of hunger. In the state of Veracruz, 25 brave women that live next to the railroad tracks have made it their mission to feed the immigrants traveling on trains. When trains pass, they throw bags of tacos to give people a better chance at surviving. And amazingly enough, these women who are doing this act of charity with the little money they have, run the risk of being arrested. Helping immigrants is illegal. It is illegal to save a man from dying of hunger, it is illegal to feed a pregnant woman that has no food, it is illegal to feed children that don't know when their next meal will be or if they will even live to see the border. But their work doesn't end there. The Patronas of immigrants also provide immigrants with information of shelters and human rights groups, they help the families that haven't heard of their loved one and come searching for a dead body, they are the voice of these immigrants in forums and with the authorities.

I don't think there could be a better name for these women. They are truly saviors. I am sure many people have survived the long journey thanks to their work, and many families have had closure at finding information of their lost relative. I hope they continue to have the support and liberty to continue helping and their good example is followed by others. If the Mexican authorities continue to ignore this clear violation of human rights, we must take a stand just like the Patronas.