My Mother of Guadalupe, I give thanks to you for letting my husband Pedro and my son Daniel and Luis to cross the border well. They got to the US and gained some bucks so we can live here in our beautiful and beloved Mexico. Also, I wholeheartedly beg you, with tears in my eyes, to always protect them.

Alicia Hernandez, December 12, 1985

Alfredo and his wife Silvia and their son Daniel thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because they managed to cross the Rio Bravo without being noticed by the immigration police. They got to the U.S. and earn some bucks to support themselves. They wholeheartedly ask you to always protect them on their way.

January 25, 1985, Mexico City

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I’ve managed to get into the US without being seen by the immigration police. I ask to find a good job to send money to my family.

Donato Gutierrez
Michoacan, Mexico, 1975

December 31, 1968

When I, full of hope of getting into the United States, crossed the Rio Bravo, I was caught by the migration police. He threatened me with death, pointing his gun in my mouth. I saw that there was no salvation for me, and I implored the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe. I realized what it is to be in a foreign land. I was searched, they took the little i got on me, then they threw me back to the river. I came back, relaying on my luck. I promised to bring you this retablo when I came back to my land. Now I do what I promised because you stayed with me.

Tomas Huerta — Zitacuaro, Michoacan

I thank the White Dog and the Coyote for making me a company on this journey when I cross the desert and the border to get to the US at the age of 8. I witness my gratitude for that.

Guadalupe Maravilla, February 4, 1984

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for I managed, without any “coyote” guide’s help, to get to the other side and to come to Los Angeles.

Raul Padilla

I, Juan Gomez, pay with this retablo giving infinite thanks for not dying drowning in Rio Bravo when I tried to cross it to the United States to get my American dream. I couldn’t do it because of this racist Donald Trump, but I had a dream in which I saw a skeleton pulling Trump to the hell for being such a pig. Viva Mexico, bastards!

May 18, 2019

Sacramento Villareal gives thanks because he managed to arrive to the USA. Rio Bravo was very wide and we almost drown in getting to the American dream. Although the crazy gringo Donald Trump is a reptilian and a Ku Klux Klan member, is a fucking fat racist, his country is Mexican territory.

Los Angeles, California
August 18, 2017

I thank Jesus Malverde for I’ve managed to cross into the United States without being seen by the immigration police. I ask to find a good job to transfer to my family.

Donato Casas Maldonado
Morelia, Michoacan, 1972

My family and I crossed over into Arizona to meet up with my husband in Phoenix where he lived and worked. We ran out of water in one day and stopped at some ruins near Arivaca to rest. We were very sick from dehydration. Suddenly an old truck appeared out of nowhere. A man with blue eyes got out and gave us some water jugs and plastic bags of food. He told us the best road to take to Tucson and where to find help in our journey. I thank Saint Toribio for helping us survive our journey.

To the Holy Virgin of San Juan, I dedicate this retablo thanking for protecting me from the immigration police when they were running after me. I entrusted myself to her and was able to get to Rio Bravo, hide myself and cross it. With her blessing, I came to California and got a job. I saved good money and opened my tacos shop here in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco.

Your devoted Isidro O.
June 17, 1990

We wholeheartedly thank Saint Toribio Romo for helping my little brother and me to cross the border. We wanted to see our mother again, because few years ago she went to work in United States leaving us with our grandmother. Thanks to his divine mercy we survived the tough desert and can reunite with our mother again.

Teodoro y Jacinto Rios — Sonora, Mexico

Señor Antonio together with his wife Maria and their son Pedro thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting them cross the Rio Bravo without being noticed by the immigration police. They could make their American dream, earn some bucks and support their family.

1985