Gallery: Caravan of Mothers Searches for Children Who Disappeared Coming to America

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Searching for Their Loved Ones

Women in Queretaro, central Mexico, hold photographs of family members who went missing while attempting to cross through Mexico toward a better life in the United States. Beginning October 15, 2012, a group of 57 mothers from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala will travel throughout Mexico on a 20-day journey called "Caravana de Madres Centroamericanas" (Caravan of Central American Mothers), tracing the route of the missing migrants. An estimated 300,000 Central Americans travel across Mexico each year to make their way to the U.S.

Photo: Demian Chavez/Reuters

Whereabouts, unknown.

A woman holds up a photograph of her missing child while taking part in Caravan Mothers of Migrants in Saltillo, Coahuila. Despite demand for workers in the United States, migrants face an uncertain future even if they do arrive. Where they land in the United States makes a huge difference in their odds of staying.

Photo: Stringer/Reuters

Looking for a Future

A migrant couple from Honduras kisses before being transferred to a new shelter in Tutitlan, Mexico. Thousands of Central American migrants on their journey from Mexico to the United States are commonly forced to seek shelter in the open air. As Mexico evicts and forces migrants out of communities, the United States is becoming less unwelcoming and still provides more opportunity.

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Creating Opportunity for Your Children

A captured migrant from El Salvador rests next to his baby before being evicted and transferred to a shelter in Tutitlan.

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

The search continues

Central American women who have reached Amatlan de los Reyes in the Mexican state of Veracruz hold pictures of their relatives, who disappeared during passage through Mexico to reach the United States.

Photo: Oscar Martinez/Reuters

On the Fast Track

Immigrants travel on a cargo train heading to the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Every day immigrants use trains to cross the country, heading toward the border between Mexico and United States.

Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Traces on the tracks

Clothing abandoned by migrants is seen next to a railway line in Huehuetoca, Mexico. A temporary shelter, located under a bridge near the suburban train station, was opened but neighborhood organizations requested its closure.

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Risking it for a chance

Jose Hernandez of Honduras, 19, whose left foot required amputation, reads at public hospital in Cuautitlan. Hernandez was run over by a train while trying to climb onto a carriage to enter into the United States.

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Too Many Lost

Photographs of missing people are on display at a square in Queretaro. The dreams that drove them north remain vividly apparent; their whereabouts are unknown.

Photo: Demian Chavez/Reuters

See More Actions

• Caravan for Peace Arrives in Washington to Protest Mexican Drug War

• The DREAM Act Is Closer to Ending Immigrant Kids' Nightmare

• DREAM Fulfilled? Undocumented College Student Speaks Out

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Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com

Gallery: Caravan of Mothers Searches for Children Who Disappeared Coming to America

Searching for Their Loved Ones

Photo: Demian Chavez/Reuters

Whereabouts, unknown.

Photo: Stringer/Reuters

Looking for a Future

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Creating Opportunity for Your Children

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

The search continues

Photo: Oscar Martinez/Reuters

On the Fast Track

Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Traces on the tracks

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Risking it for a chance

Photo: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Too Many Lost

Photo: Demian Chavez/Reuters

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