The Immigrant Experience by Experience Magazine examines the journeys of eight people from different countries—Iran, Mexico, China, the Philippines, Italy, Ireland, Ghana, and El Salvador. However, rather than narrating the real-life stories of specific individuals, the editorial team created eight composite characters whose experiences were shaped by documented immigration policies and historical events.
One of the most striking aspects of this project is that the characters' stories are not told in a linear format Instead, the reader follows each character’s journey step by step, making decisions on their behalf. Every decision immerses the reader in the uncertainty and complexity of migration.
For example, we follow Héctor, a farmer from Zacatecas, Mexico, who migrates to Texas in the 1950s as part of the Bracero Program. Along the way, we must decide whether he should pay the necessary bribes to secure a contract in Mexico or cross the border illegally in search of work.
Or we take the journey of Margaret, a young Irish woman who travels to Boston to escape the Great Famine. One of her pivotal decisions is whether to endure anti-Catholic and xenophobic discrimination in the home where she works or leave for a nearby town where her cousin is employed as a seamstress.
One of the illustrations that accompanies Hamid's story, an Iranian immigrant. Illustration: Joe Kimmel.
“You hitchhike to Guatemala and into Mexico..."
“You spend more than a month at sea with poor nutrition and sanitation..."
“You receive a letter announcing that we have won a diversity visa..."
Each story vividly contrasts the hardships and dangers of migration with the moments of hope, love, and economic opportunity that many ultimately find upon reaching the U.S.
What would a similar story look like today? Perhaps it would follow a migrant who braves the Darién Gap or a worker caught in an ICE raid. It could be the daughter of an immigrant unsure if she will lose her birthright citizenship or a resident of a sanctuary city facing defunding threats. Immigration policies are constantly shifting, and the paths taken by migrants evolve with each administration.
Yet, no matter the route or the policies in place, the immigration process remains a journey of sacrifice, struggle, and the pursuit of a safer, more prosperous life. Although Experience Magazine is no longer in publication, The Immigrant Experience remains accessible, allowing readers to immerse themselves in these journeys and gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of migration.
Miguel Botero
is an editor and project manager at Memria. He has co-produced more than thirty narrative projects on peacebuilding in collaboration with filmmakers and podcasters in Colombia.