Interview with Wonderful Machine
Wonderful Machine interviewed me about my assignment in Tijuana with Venezuelan immigrants. Below, I’ve included a few excerpts that the author, Justin Walcroft, wrote. For the full interview, navigate over to Wonderful Machine:
https://wonderfulmachine.com/article/jimmy-galt-for-byfaith-magazine/
A mural painted on the Mexico side of the Mexico-U.S. border.
“When Eric said the article would attempt to move the topic of immigration from being a political issue to a flesh and blood human issue, my own philosophy couldn’t have been more aligned. The objective of these images was to create empathy in the reader. To give the reader a sense of place and convey what the subjects might see on a daily basis. The intent was to help put the reader in the subject’s shoes.”
Young Venezuelans spending time with their mothers at a day shelter in Tijuana.
“We spent a handful of hours with some of the immigrants who were there that day. Immigrants waiting in Mexico don’t possess a lot of agency and are often exploited by cartels. For them, having a safe place where you can rest is a huge blessing. We stayed long enough to share a meal, hear their stories, and allow the good folks from World Relief to answer questions about the ever-evolving United States’ immigration policy.”
A Venezuelan man contemplates his options as he attempts to navigate the United States immigration system.
“My favorite moments from this project were listening to my subjects as I photographed them. It’s hard to imagine, but most immigrants cross hell and high water just for the chance to enter into the United States. And I say that in the most literal way possible: traveling from the other side of the planet by crossing deserts, wading through jungles, avoiding cartels, and spending your entire life savings on an untrustworthy coyote gives birth to some of the most hair-raising tales you’ll ever hear. If they ever get the chance, I would encourage readers to ask an immigrant to share their story. It will undoubtedly blow your mind.”
