LA CARAVANA DEL DIABLO

LA CARAVANA DEL DIABLO

Juan Enríquez’s words, “Govern through fear and cruelty, and it will fail,” resonate in a world increasingly defined by storms—both literal and metaphorical. These storms symbolize the constant upheavals in our environmental, social, medical, and political landscapes. They reveal the fragility of the systems we depend on, where conflicts, climate change, and pandemics expose vulnerabilities, leaving societies fractured and populations at risk. Amid these challenges, the most significant storm we face is the storm of indifference—a force that divides us, undermines compassion, and threatens the very fabric of humanity.

For the past decade, I have witnessed one such storm: the perilous journeys of migrants traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border, which I documented in my La Caravana del Diablo series. I walked alongside migrants on this journey of over 2000 miles from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to Tijuana, Mexico, documenting their journeys and listening to their stories. Migrants risk their lives seeking refuge from violence, poverty, and environmental collapse. Many face extortion, rape, and murder at the hands of gangs who exploit their desperation. It is estimated that eighty percent of migrants endure violence along the way, and countless others never complete the journey. These harrowing experiences illustrate the intersection of environmental and political storms, where systemic failures compound human suffering.

Climate change also plays a central role in this crisis, intensifying natural disasters and forcing millions from their homes. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and prolonged droughts dismantle fragile ecosystems and destabilize economies, particularly in regions least equipped to adapt. The U.S.-Mexico migration route, one of the deadliest in the world, is a grim reminder of how these vulnerabilities manifest. Since 2014, over 61,000 migrants have died globally, and the escalating impacts of climate change only promise to exacerbate this humanitarian crisis.

However, storms are not confined to the physical realm. Political storms, driven by fear and xenophobia, amplify the challenges faced by migrants. Policies that deny asylum seekers their fundamental human rights force many into lives of extortion, impoverishment, or death. These approaches, rooted in cruelty, fracture societies and hinder international cooperation. They leave behind deeply wounded communities and jeopardize collective efforts to address global challenges like climate change, migration, and inequality.

Despite their devastation, storms also hold the potential for transformation. Social movements such as the Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter, and Extinction Rebellion embody the spirit of resistance, acting as forces of change against systemic injustices. Like the natural storms that reshape landscapes, these movements disrupt entrenched systems, demanding progress and equity.

To navigate these storms, humanity must prioritize structural and human resilience. Enhanced preparedness through improved forecasting, infrastructure, and policies is vital to mitigate the impacts of climate change and social upheaval. Equally important are the small acts of empathy and compassion that remind us of our shared humanity. A moment of recognition can create ripples of belonging in a world too often divided by fear.