Skip to Content
Immigration

SPECIAL REPORT: Begging along the border

By
November 19, 2020 7:05 PM
Published 1:31 PM

News 11's Gianella Ghiglino examines the plight of asylum seekers left in limbo

MEXICALI, B.C. (KYMA, KECY) - There are currently a million people seeking asylum in the U.S. 28-years-old Cesar Lezama, and his 22-year-old wife, Miria Amaya, are among them.

Both from Honduras. They live in the Refugio de Migrante Shelter in Mexicali with their newborn baby. 

“Well the truth is we all come with a dream, a dream well how we all say in Honduras in Central America, the American dream,” said Cesar.

They’ve been in Mexicali for over a year and are still waiting to hear an answer on their asylum case.

Both Cesar and Miria left children from a previous relationship in Honduras to escape poverty 

“What have we sacrificed? Our kids." said Cesar.

"One doesn't necessarily want to be here it's not our fault in our home countries there aren’t good jobs for us because we grew up in poverty, great poverty,” said Miria.

Cesar works miscellaneous jobs. He either sells candy on the streets or washes cars. When he doesn't make enough money yesterday to buy candy, he's forced to go out begging. 

Thursday on the Evening Edition, News 11's Gianella Ghiglino talks to the young couple about their lives in limbo, and what they hope will happen in the future.

Article Topic Follows: Immigration

Jump to comments ↓

Gianella Ghiglino

Peruvian-born and LA raised Gianella Ghiglino joins the team from the San Fernando valley. “LA is the place that taught me how to breath and Peru is my breath.” She says she was inspired by the community she grew up in and began documenting her experience through poetry at the age of 7. “I wrote about everything I saw, felt and everything that inspired me.” When she entered High School she joined her school news station and realized that broadcast journalism allowed her to pursue her passion and her purpose all at once. Gianella attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish Broadcast Journalism, and Political Science. She did several internships while in College but most notably interned for PBS’s local LA station for three years. “My purpose is to share my story and of those in my community, my passion is writing.”

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content