NOTE

The Spanish-speaking world must once and again learn of the ordeals and blessings the illegal Hispanic immigrants encounter in the US in search of the American dream. The events related in this novel reflect the testimonies of my patients, who graciously confided to me their life stories. Other fiction and nonfiction books deal with this subject, but this one belongs to my patients. I published this novel a year ago, and I am now translating it into Spanish.

PREFACE

In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the U.S. economy grew more dependent on illegal immigrants from Mexico. Over the 2000-mile border with this country, an army of minimum-salary laborers flew north to satiate the American industry’s never-ending need. The major ports of entry were San Diego, California; Nogales, Arizona; and El Paso and Laredo, Texas. The 4000 border-patrol agents were a minor obstacle. Every year, 450,000 undocumented aliens crossed the southern frontier of the United States. One third of that number returned to Mexico on their own. The Migra —as immigrants called the Immigration and Naturalization Service—deported 50,000. The rest settled down in this country.

This novel unfolds in the foreground of this diaspora. I began to write it in 2003. But the events described here could have applied to any of the waves of newcomers who have enriched this country’s landscape since its inception.  Most of the recounted occurrences could have also happened to any of us. These people are no different than we are. Their existence teems with hope and hopelessness, illusions and disillusions, happiness and sadness, successes and failures. This reprint contains some adjustments to capture the original intention of my first drafts. I hope my readers will enjoy the book and discover inspiration and beauty on its pages.

Summary

Salvador abandons his seminary studies in Mexico to marry Rosa and settle in their hometown in Jalisco. In 1982—amid the Mexican diaspora in the US— when the enamored couple expects their first child, his shop goes bankrupt. The loss urges him to migrate to the US. He promises to reunite his wife and their child with him as soon as possible. Despite his foreseen language difficulties, foreign culture, discrimination, and injustices, he longs for a better future for his family and himself. But Salvador does not predict his major obstacle: On his way to an L station in Chicago, he witnesses an assault on Elisa, a coworker. He rushes to her aid and suffers life-threatening knife wounds. He falls in love with her. Family duties and obedience to God prompt him to leave Elisa and, as planned, bring Rosa and their child to the US. Salvador fights an uphill battle to forget the other woman. An unexpected occurrence rocks his marriage, religious faith, and American dream, forcing him to choose between Rosa and Elisa.