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Por Patricio Espinoza para Radio Bilingüe
Hijo de campesinos inmigrantes José Hernández, nació en tiempo de la cosecha, en la frontera entre México y California. Patricio Espinoza nos cuenta su historia... la de un niño que soñaba entre las cosechas de tomates, del joven que algun día quería ir a la luna y de como hoy su sueño es una realidad. José Hernández es ahora un astronauta de la NASA y en camino al espacio. Pero José nunca se ha olvidado de sus raíces y hoy más que nunca recuerda su pasado.
The story of Jose Hernandez, a child of migrant field workers and how his dream of becoming a NASA astronaut has become a reality. On line for a mission, Jose could be the next man to return to the Moon. Correspondent Patricio Espinoza reports for National Public Radio Bilingue (Spanish)
:: VER NUEVA INFORMACION AQUI SOBRE EL VIAJE DE JOSE ENEL TRANSBORDADOR ESPACIAL
:: UPDATE HERE ABOUT JOSE'S SPACESHUTTLE TRAVEL
While covering the Arizona, Mexico border correspondent Patricio Espinoza captures with his home camera an unexpected encounter with a group of undocumented immigrants crossing the border.
The story received a Rocky Mountain Emmy Nomination both in English & Spanish for reports originally broadcasted by KTVK and Mas! in Phoenix, Arizona. (English)
Border Encounter, by Patricio G. Espinoza
Once a week, every week they cover the border near Tucson. They maintain 3 to 10 water stations, all in hopes of saving lives. Armed with a truck and about 300 gallons of water. Their mission is to save at least one life of hundreds illegally crossing the Arizona-Mexico border.
"We've got our big tank and that's full of water; we just fire up the pump..."
But does it matter how much they care? In reality, and as fast as their water flows the wave of undocumented immigrants continues. Last year alone 101 people lost their lives to the desert heat, and things are not changing.
As we drove through this land which covers almost 300 miles of the Arizona border, a casual encounter captured with our home camera. "Siga Caminando... yo lo sigo" "Keep walking... I follow you" I tell them.
These men have been walking for about 5 days, they say, they still have about 80 miles to go before reaching Tucson. "Creo que les falta unas 60 millas es la cosa..." "You have at least 60 miles to go" I tell the group. They claimed they crossed the border alone, and did not pay anyone to help them. Asked what they would tell others or if they are afraid of dying. "Come prepared" says this man as he quickly runs away with the others, and seconds they are gone.
They told us that they were just looking for work, they asked for help, but there was nothing we could do. Yet this humanitarian army has not given up, and perhaps their water will save those men and others, including women and children who will follow.
Along the Arizona, Mexico border Patricio Espinoza.
