“I was struck by the choice mothers face when they leave their children. How do they make such an impossible decision? Among Latinos, where family is all-important, where for women motherhood is valued far above all else, why are droves of mothers leaving their children? What would I do if I were in their shoes?”

Nazario writes her Los Angeles Times series, the basis for Enrique’s Journey, after a conversation with her housekeeper Carmen. Nazario learns that Carmen left four children behind in Guatemala when she immigrated to the United States 12 years earlier. Nazario comes to understand that Carmen’s story is not unique. For many mothers in Central America and Mexico, supporting their children financially means abandoning them. Latinos view motherhood as integral to womanhood, making the decision particularly difficult.

“The letter helped me obtain permission to ride atop the trains of four companies that operate freight trains up the length of Mexico. That way, the conductor would know when I was on board. I would tell them to be on the lookout for my signal. I’d wear a red rain jacket strapped around my waist and wave it if I was in dire danger. I tried to have a source in each region I’d be in, including his or her cell phone number, so I could call for help if I was in trouble.”

Nazario’s approach to researching immigration is multipronged. She interviews migrants, aid groups, and others involved in illegal immigration, and undertakes the journey herself. Her direct experiences riding the trains lend authenticity and immediacy to Enrique’s Journey. This quote describes a letter Nazario obtains from the personal assistant to Mexico’s president asking that the authorities and police cooperate with her reporting. The letter helps keep Nazario safe by alerting conductors of her presence on the trains. It also keeps her out of jail three times.

“The boy does not understand.”

The opening words of Chapter 1 capture Enrique’s confusion at his mother’s departure. This confusion turns into anger and resentment over time. When Enrique and Lourdes reunite more than a decade later, they are forced to confront the emotional wounds stemming from this pivotal moment.