Aug 9, 2013

Grueling journey to the States: La bestia rides through Central America

Stokely Baksh 0 Comment Nation, World Central Americans, displaced, freight trains, Immigration, la bestia, Mexico, migrants, undocumented, United States

49 photos

Getty Images photographer John Moore explores the grueling journey of many Central American immigrants who are making their way to the United States in hopes of a better life.

Thousands of migrants ride atop the trains, known as “la bestia,” or the beast, during their long and perilous journey through Mexico to the U.S. border. Many of the immigrants are robbed or assaulted by gangs who control the train tops, while others fall asleep and tumble down, losing limbs or perishing under the wheels of the trains. Only a fraction of the immigrants who start the journey will arrive safely on their first attempt to illegally enter the United States. — Getty Images

: Central American immigrants check a map of Mexico before boarding a freight train headed north on August 3, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. Thousands of migrants ride atop the trains during their long and perilous journey through Mexico to the U.S. border. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants prepare to board on a freight train headed north on August 3, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: A Central American immigrant stands atop a freight train about to head north early on August 3, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: A Central American immigrants prepare to climb aboard a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: A train crew loads sand unto an engine to sprinkle on rain-slick tracks while headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: A train crew loads sand unto an engine to sprinkle on rain-slick tracks while headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American migrants climb atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American migrants climb atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: A Nicaraguan immigrant wears a plastic bag during a thunderstorm before climbing atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants sit atop a freight train about to head north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants climb atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants wear plastic bags during a rain storm while atop a freight train about to head north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American migrants stand atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants wear plastic bags during a thunderstorm while atop a freight train about to head north early on August 4, 2013 in Arriaga, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Immigrants arrive for a rest stop after a 15 hour ride atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Immigrants arrive for a rest stop after a 15 hour ride atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Immigrants arrive for a rest stop after a 15 hour ride atop a freight train headed north early on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Migrants line up for lunch at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. The shelter, founded in 2007 by Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra, houses and feeds immigrants, most from Central America, during a stop on their train route through Mexico towards the U.S. border. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Migrants wait in line for lunch at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Migrants unload donated vegetables and fruit at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. The shelter, founded by Solalinde Guerra in 2007, houses and feeds immigrants, mostly from Central America, at a train stop in their journey through Mexico towards the United States. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra warns migrants of the dangers in their journey while at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Migrants listen as Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra warns them of the dangers in their journey to the United States, while at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Migrants listen as Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra warns them of the dangers in their journey to the United States, while at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: An immigrant passes the day at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra celebrates Mass with migrants during a stop in their journey to the United States, while at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Catholic Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra hugs a Cuban immigrant on his 42nd birthday following Mass at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: An immigrant passes the day at the Hermanos en el Camino (Brothers in the Road) shelter on August 4, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants arrive on top of a freight train to the Hermanos en el Camino immigrant shelter on August 6, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. The sign outside reads “Welcome Migrants.” (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants walk after arriving on a freight train for a stop on August 6, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. Thousands of Central American migrants ride the trains, known as ‘la bestia’, or the beast, during their long and perilous journey north through Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants walk after arriving atop a freight train for a stop on August 6, 2013 to Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants walk after arriving atop a freight train for a stop on August 6, 2013 to Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants arrive on top of a freight train for a stop on August 6, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants arrive on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 to Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants arrive on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 to Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants arrive on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 to Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants ride north on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants try to stay hydrated while riding on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 in Ixtepec, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants ride under a blazing sun on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants ride north on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants ride north on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants ride north on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: Central American immigrants duck tree branches while riding on top of a freight train on August 6, 2013 near Juchitlan, Mexico. (John Moore/Getty Images)