bandit
a robber
combi
mini bus
detention center
a facility which houses detained illegal immigrants
el Bus de Lágrimas
translation for "the Bus of Tears"
el Manguito
a dangerous immigration checkpoint
el Norte
translation for "the North," which indicates Mexico and then the U.S. for Central Americans
fichera
prostitute
gangster
a member of a group of criminals who commit brutal crimes against migrants
Grupo Beta
a group associated with the Instituto Nacional de Migración that rescues Central American migrants in Mexico
hitchhiker
someone who solicits rides from strangers
Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS)
a bureau of the U.S. Department of Justice that regulates the admission of foreign-born persons entering the United States of America
impetus
an impulse or incentive
jefe
translation for "boss, manager"
la bestia
translation for "the beast," referring to the Mexican state of Chiapas
la migra
a colloquial name for the officers of the Mexican Border Patrol
lempiras
Honduran currency
Mara Salvatrucha
one of the many gangs that intimidates migrants on top of the trains headed north
mi hijo
translation for "my son"
migrant
a person who travels to find work or to relocate
pesos
units of Mexican currency
smuggler
someone who is paid to help migrants cross the border
U.S. Border Patrol
a law enforcement agency with the INS that prevents illegal entrance into the United States
