At Gimnasio de Bachilleres, a high school sports complex in Ciudad Juárez’s central park, officials have transformed a basketball court into a makeshift sleeping area for hundreds of asylum seekers. On our first day in Juárez as part of the IWMF’s Adelante program, my teammate Elaine and I decided to visit the shelter with the help of Clemente, who worked with our group as a fixer, and Miguel, who worked with us as a driver.

At the shelter, we met the Paumiers — a Cuban family that had just arrived in Juárez after a long and often treacherous journey through South and Central America. We spoke with them about the dangers they faced during their trip as well as their hopes for the future. In this behind-the-scenes audio piece, I share some reflections about the time I spent with the family along with audio of Victor Paumier sharing some of his story.

Seven-year-old Harold hugs his father as the Paumier family waits to find out if there’s space for them at a shelter in Ciudad Juárez. (Photo by Carolina Hidalgo)

Carolina Hidalgo, 2019 US-Mexico Border Fellow