Realized on assignment for the AVSI Foundation

One of the biggest challenges that Central American migrants are facing on their way to the United States border is the hidden dangers during their passage through Mexico: kidnappings, thefts and violence are a daily occurrence.

Thousands of people become victims of trafficking, a business for Mexican drug cartels and, sometimes, even for the authorities that instead of protecting migrants, take advantage of them. Despite this, since the early 2000s there has been a steady increase in migration, caused mainly by global and regional problems. Thus in 2003 the parish priest of the city of Oaxaca, Fernando Cruz Montez, decided to found the Center for the Orientation of Migrants (COMI), a non-profit organization that aims to improve the situation of Central American migrants crossing Mexico, by offering them humanitarian support, access to care, possibility of integration into the community and legal support. At the same time, in order to prevent people from being forced to sleep in the streets, in bus terminals or in parishes, in 2004 Father Montez decided to create the safe shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, to offer migrants passing by a decent accommodation. In this series of photographs, I decided to portray the people housed in the shelter in front of a wall painted by refugees and volunteers with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter in the same facility and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. In their eyes the fear of those who do not know what will happen to themselves, the hope of those who seek a better future, the frustration of those who didn’t succeed. There are those who are determined to leave in order to reach the United States, those who adapted themselves and prefer to stay in Mexico, others who, aware of the dangers and of those who didn’t make it before them, have decided to return from whence they came. A microcosm that far from border walls, simply preserves their dignity as human beings. Wood carvings, murals and everyday objects reveal the transiency of their presence, but also the memory of their passage. Within the walls of the “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, in that limbo that separates them from the American dream.

A 4-year-old girl, who came from Honduras along with her parents in order to reach the USA, is seen portrayed while hiding her face with a hat. Behind her, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter in “Casa del Buen Samaritano” and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural asking “Who invented borders?” painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
19-year-old Cindy Janeth Flores Rodriguez, who came from San Pedro, Honduras, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind her, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Cindy left Honduras on August 2019 and has now applied for asylum in Mexico. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A bicycle cart used to carry waste outside the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, run by the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
34-year-old Edwin Noel Mejía Nolasco, who came from Honduras, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind him, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Nevertheless, Edwin hopes to reach his relatives in South Carolina. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural saying “The migrant is not a statistic, he has a face and dignity” painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
41-year-old Lorena Paguaga, who came from Villanueva Cortés, Honduras, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind her, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Lorena left Honduras for safety reasons and is looking for a safer place for her children to live. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
An empty chair in front of the entrance gate of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, run by the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
32-year-old Gabino Ángel Valdez Castillo, who came from Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind him, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Nevertheless, Gabino’s main goal is to get to the USA. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural depicting agents patrolling the US borders, painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A 10-year-old boy, who came from Honduras along with his parents, is seen portrayed while hiding his face with one of his favourite toys. Behind him, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter in “Casa del Buen Samaritano” and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A wall with a reproduction of the biblical Last Supper in a corner of the kitchen in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, run by the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
20-year-old Marvin Gómez, who came from Honduras, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind him, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Nevertheless, Marvin hopes to get to the USA. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural depicting a typical scene migrants have to face at the Mexican borders, painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
27-year-old Jeimy Elisuath Hernández, who came from Peñablanca Cortés, Honduras, is seen portrayed while hiding her face with her Batman’s hat. Behind her, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter in “Casa del Buen Samaritano” and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Jeimy left Honduras on February 2019 due to the presence of gangs near her home and covered her face for fear of repercussions. She hopes to get to the USA in order to have a peaceful life. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural depicting people demonstrating in favour of justice and equality rights for migrants, painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
22-year-old Arlandis Noy, who came from Cuba, is seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind him, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Nevertheless, Arlandis’s main goal is to get to the USA. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A mural painted in the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility with the help of volunteers from the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
16-year-old Jessica, who came from Peñablanca Cortés, Honduras, is seen portrayed while hiding her face with a mop. Behind her, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter in “Casa del Buen Samaritano” and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Jessica left Honduras because of the violence in her region and covered her face for fear of repercussions. She hopes to get to USA. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
A big bowl used to wash clothes inside the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano” by the migrants hosted in the facility. The shelter is run by the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
32-year-old Adelfo Reyes and his 11-year-old son Astor Noe, who came from Colón, Honduras, are seen portrayed at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”. Behind them, a wall painted with crosses reporting the names of migrants who found shelter there and, after starting their journey to the US border, they disappeared. Adelfo and his son decided to return to Honduras because Astor’s mother misses her son too much. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli
An exit sign at the shelter of “Casa del Buen Samaritano”, run by the Migrant Orientation Center of Oaxaca (COMI). After leaving this safe place, most of the migrants start a perilous journey hoping to get to USA, some decide to ask for asylum in Mexico, others to go back home. Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico 2019. © Matteo Bastianelli

CASA DEL BUEN SAMARITANO (2019)