Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for protecting us from the immigration police so we could hop over the wall, got to San Diego, California, and found there jobs as builders. Pancho, my son Juan and I are fulfilling our promise with this.

Mexico, 2016

Pedro gives infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him return back to Mexico safe and sound after he was beating till unconscious in the Arizona desert when the immigration police caught him trying to cross the US border only to earn some dollars to support his family.

January 25, 2001

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for giving them the opportunity to cross the wall and to make their dreams of the family reunion and surviving together in California come true. It’s «chilango» who asked you to protect them.

Mexico City
December 2009
Bless their way

Notes:
The Border Fence
Sign: «God lives without borders»
Chilango is a Mexican slang demonym for residents of Mexico City.

We thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for helping us to get to the United States when we were crossing Rio Bravo. The current was strong, and the river was dragging us so we couldn’t swim. But you helped us, and we got to USA to find job and earn some money to live.

The Martinez family
Los Angeles, California, July 20, 1940

With all my heart, I ask the Saint Lord of Chalma to bless our way so we could get to the USA, without being caught by the immigration police, and to fulfill our American dream to work honestly and to earn some dollars to support our family which stays in Mexico.

Sr. Antonio and his sons Pedro and Pablo
January 25, 1985

Don Rogaciano Hernandez offers this retablo to Saint Joseph in order to thank for his son Sabino coming back home after working on the border for many years. Don thought he’d never see his son again.

Leon, Guanajuato

Thanks for everything.

We thank the Virgin Mary for we had made it to the other side without getting caught, although my brother Carlos caught the flu. Now, after 10 years in States, we got our documents and we aren’t illegals anymore. We ordered to build a new house for our mother who never wanted to go with us. That’s how much she loves her grandsons, so she preferred to stay with our sisters.

Agustin & Jose, 1956

We, Jose, Luis and Pablo Martinez, dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of Juquila. Our border crossing guide left us but then came back. So we managed to get to New York and make a lot of dollars. Now we are going back to Mexico and we thank you for protecting us during these three years abroad.

Puebla — July 18, 1999

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for the miracle that I didn’t die in the desert when the guide left me alone.

Lucio R., 1999

Mrs. Debbie Nathan dedicates this retablo to her colleagues from MCLAP (Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program) and to the clients who had a great courage to cross the border and one day got involved in sad situations and now they are facing the death penalty. We, from MCLAP, are fighting for our dearest clients’ lives. We are also facing the danger going in the regions terrorized by the drug-traffic. Let the forces and the spirits, natural and supernatural, protect us so we could continue to live and enjoy our lives in our neighbor countries.

New York — Mexico City 2011
Bless our way!

We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting us cross the river and arrive to the USA for work. From the bottom of the heart we offer you this retablo.

The Ramiraz Gutierrez family
Guadalajara, Jalisco
July 10, 1979

Jose gives thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him cross the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) without being seen by immigration police. So he could fulfill his American dream and earn some bucks for helping his family in Mexico.

25 January 1990