With tensions over illegal immigration at the U.S./Mexico border at a high, one student has taken the initiative to experience the journey immigrants to the United States take from countries south of the border. 

Saul Flores, a senior in graphic design and marketing, began a journey through 10 countries, spanning from Colombia to the United States, May 17.  

“[May 17] I’m going to begin a walk called the Walk of the Immigrants in which I’ll be traveling to 10 countries to help awareness on the adversities of the immigrants of the United States, the journey that they face to get into America and the sacrifices they have to go through throughout that journey,” Flores said.  

Luisa Jaramillo, a sophomore in biochemistry, and Flores stayed with Jaramillo’s family in Colombia for about a week, then travelled to Ecuador to meet up with 12 other Caldwell Fellows on their sustainability trip.  

“We’re going to volunteer at an orphanage [in Colombia]. Then we’re going to Ecuador and then back to Colombia, traveling inland,” Jaramillo said. From there, Flores will begin his journey alone.

In preparation for the long trek, Flores said research about the countries he will be visiting has been his main focus. 

“I think for a trip like this there has to be a certain type of structure, which is almost a lack of structure; just being knowledgeable of the areas I’m going to be in,” Flores said. “I’ve been reading a lot and studying the countries I’m going to visit, reading travel guides, trying to figure out the best way to get from place to place, what’s safe, what’s not safe, customs, that sort of thing.” 

Flores said he hopes the experience will not be too much of a culture shock and that he has focused on learning the best forms of basic transportation. 

“I’m going to take a boat through the Panama Canal to Costa Rica. Nicaragua, I’ll probably be walking along the beaches. Honduras and El Salvador there’s a lot of crime right now so I’m being hosted by a family; the same in Guatemala as a precaution,” Flores said. “Then I’m going to be heading to Belize, which is pretty safe. It’s a pretty big tourist area, so I’m not too worried. Then up to Mexico, going into Juarez and then making it back to Charlotte.” 

Ariel Fugate, a junior in fisheries and wildlife sciences, is currently dating Flores and will be joining him in Guatemala for the last part of his journey. 

“I’ll actually be walking with him some of the way through Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. I’ll be flying out of Mexico City, so I’ll actually be walking across the border with him, which is one of the more important parts of his journey,” Fugate said. 

Since she knows little to no Spanish, Fugate said she is going to Guatemala to learn the main language of Latin America. 

“I’m going to Guatemala for three weeks before I meet up with him and learn Spanish and then start the walk with him,” Fugate said. “We’re going to try to talk to a lot of the locals along his journey. I hope to be fluent enough to talk and join in on those conversations.”

Flores said he has planned the journey so he can hopefully be back in the U.S. by early August. 

“That’s kind of pushing it: five days, six days per country. I really want to hitchhike a lot of the trip just because that’s how the immigrants take most of their trip,” Flores said. “This is actually a journey that thousands of immigrants walk every day, and right now it’s a really difficult time for people in the US, with the immigration scare, especially in Arizona. I want to share their journey and share to people how difficult it is to actually get into this country.” 

Fugate said the journey is important to her because she will be learning about immigration issues to help spread the word about them to others. 

“Immigration issues are so important to America, but it’s something a lot of people aren’t aware of. Even at N.C. State we have a large community of immigrants,” Fugate said.

Jaramillo said Flores’s trip is unique because he is Hispanic and not native to America. 

“It’s really unique for Saul because as a Hispanic. The lens through which he sees is going to be different than if an American-born person would do the same trip because it is his own culture and it is his own group,” Jaramillo said. “He’s going for more of the perspective of the trials and the things that are faced by people who seek to get in the United States. It’ll be interesting to see from his perspective versus the perspective of someone who is not a Hispanic.” 

Dr. Janice Odom, director of the Caldwell Fellows program, said she has seen Flores’s growing identification with the Hispanic part of his heritage. 

“Saul is very passionate… I’ve been challenging him to see how to challenge himself about these issues. [Immigration] is an issue that affects all of us,” Odom said. “Service is the backbone of what the Caldwell Fellows is all about; also recognizing that leadership is something that we have to have a global perspective on.” 

Jaramillo was co-leader with Saul on the Caldwell Fellow’s spring break trip to Mexico this year. According to Jaramillo, many kids in Mexico do not have a lot of hope except for the school they’re in as far as education goes.

“We worked at the school for a week and we’re both really passionate about the work that’s going on there and the potential for our University and the Caldwell Fellows to get involved and have a continuing program for the school and to inspire them and give them something to look forward to.”

During the walk, Flores, an amateur photographer, said he will be taking photographs of his experience and selling them as a fundraiser. 

“I’m going to be promoting a fundraiser for a school in my mother’s hometown in Mexico, so we’ll be selling photographs throughout the entire summer to hopefully bring revenue and help rebuild an entire school in Mexico.”