Ciudad Juarez - a Borderland of Battles, Dreams and Destiny

Ciudad Juárez is a city of contrasts—of hardship and hope, of history and rebirth. For many, it’s simply a checkpoint between two nations. But for us, it was more than a place on a map. It was the threshold where our future began.

It was in Ciudad Juárez that we interviewed to become U.S. residents—a defining moment in The Road of a Dreamer. This city, where borders blur and stories intertwine, symbolized everything we were chasing: opportunity, stability, and a better life.

As I reflect on that chapter of our journey, I realize how much this city embodies the very themes of my book—resilience, reinvention, and hope in the face of adversity.

A City That Made History

Ciudad Juárez has stood at the crossroads of major national transformations:

• In 1911, it was the stage for the Battle of Juárez, where revolutionaries like Pancho Villa helped force the resignation of President Porfirio Díaz. That victory reshaped a nation—and proved that change begins with courage.

• Earlier, Benito Juárez moved his government here during the French Intervention. For two years, this border town was the capital of Mexico—a symbol of resistance and national pride.

• In 1911, the Treaty of Ciudad Juárez officially ended the first phase of the Mexican Revolution. Once again, the city helped turn the page of history.

A Place of Pain—and Progress

Ciudad Juárez has faced some of the darkest chapters in modern Mexican history. From the wave of drug-related violence (2008–2012) that made headlines around the world, to the heartbreaking epidemic of feminicides, Juárez has endured what few cities could. And yet—it survives, and it rises.

Like many dreamers, the city knows what it means to be defined by struggle—but not defeated by it.

The City of Factory Dreams

In the 1960s, Juárez became a symbol of modern economic change. With the birth of the maquiladora industry, it grew into a global manufacturing hub, giving jobs—and dreams—to thousands. This transformation mirrors what many of us experienced after crossing borders: starting from scratch, working long hours, and building a new life from the ground up.

La Equis: The Fusion of Cultures

Driving through the city, it’s hard to miss La Equis, the towering red monument that rises like a beacon near the Rio Grande. It represents the fusion of Spanish and indigenous heritage—a powerful metaphor for many immigrant families who carry dual identities.

In many ways, we too are a fusion—of where we came from and where we are going.

When the Pope Came to the Border

In 2016, Pope Francis visited Ciudad Juárez and celebrated Mass at the border. It was a profound moment of unity and spiritual healing for a region long defined by separation. His visit reminded the world that the border isn’t just a line—it’s a bridge.

Our Juárez Chapter

For us, Ciudad Juárez will always be sacred ground. It’s where we stood—nervous, hopeful, ready—for our residency interviews. Where we looked an immigration officer in the eye and said, “This is who we are. And we’re ready for what comes next.”

It was the moment we stepped out of one life and into another.

A City That Mirrors the Dreamer’s Journey

In The Road of a Dreamer, I write about the emotional toll of chasing something greater than yourself. Ciudad Juárez, in all its complexity, represents the essence of that dreamer’s journey—a place that has fought to transform itself, time and time again.

It’s a city of battles and beginnings. Of heartbreak and healing. Of crossing over—and becoming more.

And like so many dreamers, Juárez reminds us: where you start doesn’t define you. What you fight for does.