A packed truck, thin oxygen, and 300 bodies crammed together: Nicaraguan migrant Alvin Sevilla’s journey to the U.S. border nearly cost him his life. His story, documented by CGTN Stringer, exposes the escalating humanitarian crisis at America’s borders as smuggling risks surge.
The Biden administration reported a record 890 migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2022 – a 58% spike from 2021. Sevilla survived suffocation in a smuggling vehicle, but countless others aren’t as lucky. His testimony sheds light on dangerous routes organized by traffickers exploiting desperate families and individuals.
The Human Cost of Border Crossings
Sevilla described the truck’s conditions as 'like being buried alive,' with migrants paying thousands for what they hoped would be safe passage. Despite U.S. efforts to curb illegal immigration, human rights advocates argue enforcement-first policies push people toward deadlier methods. Over 2.7 million migrants were detained at the southern border in 2022 alone.
A Survivor’s Story
'We became dollars, not humans to them,' Sevilla said of his smugglers, who abandoned the group mid-route. His account reflects broader patterns – the UN estimates 65 million people globally undertake perilous migrations annually, often fleeing poverty or violence. As debates over immigration reform intensify, stories like Sevilla’s underscore the urgent need for safer pathways and international cooperation.
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Sneaking into the U.S., I almost suffocated in a oxygen-starved truck
cgtn.com
