Theresa

I am from Vera Cruz Mexico. I have been here for 15 years mostly doing farmwork.

I was a victim of domestic violence in Mexico. My husband brutally injured me and I had to run for my life. I was this man for five years and we had three children together. I had to leave my children with my mother and I have not seen them for fifteen years.

I was five months pregnant with my last child and my husband bit off part of my nose. He was very violent. I left as soon as I could.

It was a difficult journey. I remember I was with a group of all men crossing a river. The nighttime patrol came by and I ran into a ditch and fell and broke my foot. The men helped me go back to Mexico to Cuidad Juarez. I had an operation there and was there for 3 months recovering. I had to pay back my expenses so they sent me as a runner to go and collect the money from the immigrants crossing for the coyotes. I was on crutches and had to carry a lot of money. I felt pretty vulnerable. It took 3 months of working to pay off my debt before I could come across.