Life on the Line

Hunger and humiliation, marginalisation and mutilation, robbery and rape. Every year thousands of migrants leave their families and homes in Central America to try and make a life for themselves in “the North”. Staking their all on a one-way trip to the promised land, they encounter abuse, extortion and desolation on their way through Mexico. But their hope for a better, worthier existence carries them forward. This documentary tells the stories of daring people who put their lives on the line for a dream they can never be sure to reach.

In April 2007, the Cactus Film team, with support from the CNDH (the Mexican human rights commission), travelled in the tracks of the migrants, capturing the destinies of a few of many thousands.

They have come from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – women, men and even children, who in their home countries have no money for food or to build a roof over their heads. For them, leaving is the only way to help their families.

We join them in Mexico, along a part of their journey, through Tabasco and Veracruz. Travelling across Mexican territory along the tracks of a train known as “The Beast”, the migrants face the most adverse situations imaginable. We are told stories of police abuse, robberies, rape and even murder committed by people to whom migrants are just another profitable industry. We get to meet the people behind the statistics – the people the authorities want to forget.

This is their story.

Life on the Line

Synopsis

Production notes

Original Title: La vida en la vía

English Title: Life on the Line

Running Time: 31 minutes

Year of Production: 2007

Country of Origin: Mexico

Language: Spanish

Subtitles: English

Genre: Documentary/Factual

Format: DV NTSC 16:9

Production Company: Cactus Film and Video

Credits

Ricardo Padilla Director

Gaetan Mariage Cameraman & Editor

Gregory Allen Producer & Soundman

José Cohen Executive Producer

Fray Blas Alvarado Jiménez Comments

Ylva Mossing Research & Translation

Claudia Rosas Production Coordinator

Luis M. Jara Assistant Editor

Felipe Cruz Salinas Jasso Coordination

Manuel Dugué Graphics & Animation

Muchos Thankyos to:

Alejandra Liceaga & Rebecca Cammisa

What happened next

The many Central American migrants going through Mexico on their way to the North travel along the train tracks crossing Chiapas and Tabasco. But when services close down or tracks are rendered unusable by floods and hurricanes, the migrants are left to their destiny.

Shortly after the Cactus crew stopped filming, in the summer of 2007, the train trafficking Chiapas-Mayab suspended its services. As a result, thousands of migrants were stranded in Chiapas without food or money. Military forces and police dealt with the situation by means of massive deportations and human rights violations.

Migrants riot to avoid deportation:

To avoid deportation Central Americans migrants under arrest at the migration station in Tenosique, Tabasco, rioted. This caused units from among others the National Institute of Migration (INM, the Federal Police (PFP) and the Army to step up security in the area.

Commission of Human Rights demands worthy accommodations:

In order to stem the massive tide of undocumented migrants and prevent their extended presence in Chiapas, Tabasco and Oaxaca – due to the suspended train services - the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) declared that migrants who presented themselves voluntarily to be repatriated should be put up in worthy accommodations by the National Institute of Migration (INM), who should host the migrants until their departure.

Aggressions reported against stranded migrants:

Human rights groups reported that Mexican army troops and federal agents, under the cover of rifle fire and scattered bullets, entered one of the camps in the border municipality of Tenosique, where Central American migrants were stranded since the suspension of their transportation,.

Nightmare on the southern rail:

In August, almost one month after the train stopped running, thousands of Central Americans were still waiting for the Chiapas-Mayab railway to resume its services. Some of them took the decision to walk north along the tracks, some were still hanging around the railways waiting for the train.

The reality of illegal immigrants in Mexico:

The conditions that the migrants are living under during the summer of 2007 were reported to both human rights and religious organizations.

In August 2007, the newspaper El Universal gave the following numbers referring to the migrants at the time:

1,200 migrants were stranded in Tabasco, Chiapas and Oaxaca

900 migrants were sent back to their respective home countries

48 % reported that they were victims of assault

The pressclips describe the migrants’ situation after the train’s suspension.

The director's words

The project “Life on the Line” started to take shape in 2006, when Cactus Film and Video was contacted by Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission.

The Commission wanted to raise awareness about the problems caused by migration as well as the human rights violations taking place in Mexico, not just despite the Mexican authorities, but with their actual support. The world needs to be alerted to what’s going on under our very eyes.

Violating our fellow man:

With their mind on the goal, the thousands of Central American migrants on their way to the United States often forget that the journey through Mexico is long and dangerous. Some make it to their goal, but the awful conditions along the way force many to turn back. Starvation, mutilation, rape, robbery and grave physical abuse are more common than not. Among the culprits are both Mexican authorities and locals, taking advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable.

Traveling with the migrants and, in some small way taking part in their suffering was a very real and strong experience for the whole crew. It affected us deeply to see the conditions they live under and the abuse they suffer. And to think that these despicable crimes are committed by people like you and me and the very authorities in which we should be able to place our trust.

Hope prevails:

On the other hand it was amazing to see the strength and joy for life that these people have in spite of everything they go through. That they can sing despite not having eaten for days. That there is hope in their eyes despite the bruises.

During the filming, we met Cristina, a Honduran woman who was going back for the second time. She had left her daughter behind in the hope of finding a job in the U.S. that would let her send money back to her family. When she got to the border she got stuck at a safe house, as they wouldn’t let her leave until she could pay the coyotes (people smugglers), and the group she traveled with left her behind. After many weeks, Cristina finally made it to Houston, where she started working. That’s the last we heard of her. Our lasting impression of Cristina was of a strong and positive woman, who was not going to let anybody stop her. The fates of the rest of our travel companions, we unfortunately don’t know.

Letting the world know:

It is our hope that with this documentary we can open some eyes. Of the migrants, so they realize the dangers they face making this journey. Of the authorities, so they are forced to take positive action and not turn the other way. And of all citizens of the world, so we can better understand that the life of every migrant is worth as much as our own.

Ricardo “Tato” Padilla

Film Director

Pressclips

"Life on the Line"

Won the Jury Price in the short film category at the Al Jazeera Film Festival 2008.

Press Release