What happens next after an epic journey?
Wilmary Camacho, her four-month old baby and her three-year-old girl, had to travel thousands of miles through jungles and mountains in order to reach the US border.
The jungle is the hardest because of all the stuff you see there. There were wild animals and dead people. It was so dangerous,” the Venezuelan said to the BBC. “And we had the children. The kids made every day more complicated.
Ms Camacho was in El Paso Texas with her oldest daughter Mia, and her husband, who was just metres away, was smoking a cigarette while they planned their next move.
Their journey is far not over.
She stated, “This is just the midpoint.” “We are headed to Denver. We’ve got our tickets now!”
Ms Camacho is 23, one of more that two million migrants who arrived at the US-Mexico Border in the last year. This number is expected to rise further as the US moves into 2023. El Paso is the epicenter of this phenomenon, with a swell in migrants arriving at the border every week leaving local officials scrambling for funds.
For most migrants seeking asylum, the journey to the USA begins with their presentation at the US Border to Customs and Border Patrol Officers (CBP).
Once processed, migrants (currently nearly 1,500 per day in El Paso) are released to local officials, who give water and clothes, as well as temporary shelter.
These groups help migrants coordinate their travel plans. Many hope to travel further into America to be reunited or find work while waiting for their court dates, which will determine their status.
This week, the BBC met with migrants in El Paso on their journey to other parts of the US. Some migrants are considered “sponsored”, meaning they have friends or relatives who provide financial support. While others travel with very few connections and little more than their clothes, some are classified as “sponsored”.
“I’m going New York. Elois Acelvedo, from Nicaragua, stated that she has a niece there and was left broke after being robbed in her travels north. “A guy from the town came yesterday and said they’d help. But no one has returned.”
Ms. Acelvedo believes that New York is an urgent destination. She cried and explained that her sons, the youngest of whom is under one year old, are still in Nicaragua and depend on her.
“It’s a sacrifice…life in Nicaragua was impossible. I could have worked like a slave and made just $30 (£25) a week. She stated that even food was too expensive. “Now, thank goodness, I’ll have the money to send it. It’s all that I need.”
Elianny Rodriguez, a Dominican, said that waiting for the next step was the hardest part. She will be heading to New Jersey where she will have relatives and friends among the state’s large Dominican diaspora.
She said, “I’ve been here nine days in this chaos, just waiting for a better future for our family.” “Then, the plan will just be to wait for that.” [court] Date and do not cause mischief. You should live a normal existence.”
Ms. Rodriguez might not be able to wait long. She explained Wednesday afternoon that she had been issued a ticket by city officials for the next “guagua”, a Dominican term meaning a bus, to New York.
She stated, “All they said to me was that New York City government was helping people get there.” “We’re very grateful.”
The life of migrants who are waiting in El Paso for help is filled with waiting, whether it’s for information on their transportation or their next meal.
Rodrigo Antonio Hernandez is a former military officer, 52 years old, who claimed he fled Venezuela following torture by government agents. Hernandez said that most migrants just want to be safe and not cause trouble for the local community.
A recent morning, Hernandez instructed other migrants to clean their sleeping areas and throw away trash while they waited to receive a delivery from the local food bank.
“We must be disciplined,” he said to the BBC, pointing at a tightly rolled blanket and bag stored in a city park. “We don’t want people to believe we shouldn’t be here or for the community not to want us. People will have negative perceptions of migrants if this area is dirty.
Some people have no plans at all except to start afresh in America.
They include Kenia Contreras, a Chilean citizen, and Anthony Ybarra from Venezuela. The couple arrived in the USA after a journey that saw them cross nine countries between Chile and the US border.
Mr. Ybarra smiled wide and said, “I have family here, in Atlanta, Houston,” “But, we don’t want anyone to be interrupted.” We don’t need to be a burden if others can do it without any help. We are here to help, not ask for anything.”
They say it remains a mystery where they will go and what they’ll do.
“I want to give this kid a better life…we’ll go where God lets us go,” Ms Ybarra said, pointing to her son as he sat on the pavement, playing with the shoelaces of a nearby adult. “I will do whatever it takes, even if it means selling candy or caramels. When we do find work, we will give our all.
Additional reporting by Alexandra Ostasiewicz