Nicaraguans learn to swim to cross the border into the US

Job crossing illegally crossing that fierce river has claimed the lives of many people, but the dream of life in America still haunts many people in the Central American country.

At the recreational pool in Esteli, Nicaragua, swimmers practice dealing with man-made waves, hoping to prepare for the future they will face in the Rio Grande River on the US border. .

Darling Molina – Esteli City, Nicaragua said: “My daughter and I are about to hit the road, so I decided to study a bit, because it’s dangerous to go into the water and don’t know how to protect ourselves.”

Most of the people who take this swimming course are single mothers who are unemployed or cannot earn enough to eat. The dream of many people is to work in America, save money, and then return home to open a business.

Traffickers charge at least $5,000 to $14,000 for each person who wants to cross the border into the US, according to AFP news agency. Many people borrow or sell their homes to pay this money, but people who cross the border still have to risk their lives, or be mistreated, even attacked by traffickers, or by criminal gangs. kidnap offenders.

Right in the city of Esteli, a family has just received the body of a loved one who died in the Rio Grande river. The young woman passed away last month and was unable to reach her desired destination.

Adelina Rizo Molina – The victim’s cousin said: “When my cousin was about to leave, there was information on Facebook that people trying to emigrate suffered a lot, drowned… I have always been not in favor of leaving like that, because for me those trips are It’s like risking your life, not knowing if you will reach your destination because not only is it dangerous in the river, you can also be killed.“.

The road from Nicaragua to the US is more than 3,000 km long, dangers are everywhere. Yet according to US Customs and Border Protection, nearly 112,000 Nicaraguans were arrested at the US border in just over a year (from January 2021 to February 2022).

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