Documentaries

The Journey Alone

Rio Grande Valley - the natural border between Texas and Mexico - is ground zero for the nation's newest immigration crisis. More than 52,000 children, some as young as 2, have crossed the border alone, without a parent. WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago and photojournalist Zac Gooch traveled to Texas to trace the path of the children, find out what kind of care they're receiving and learn how the crisis is impacting North Carolina.

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Rio Grande Valley – a Texas community on the border of Mexico – is ground zero for the nation's newest immigration crisis. More than 52,000 children, some as young as 2, have crossed the border alone, without a parent. WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago and photojournalist Zac Gooch traveled to Texas to trace the path of the children, find out what kind of care they’re receiving and learn how the crisis is impacting North Carolina.

Q&A

Unaccompanied children
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago
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A child talks with a Border Patrol officer after crossing the Mexico/U.S. border alone.
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A woman and a child cross the border from Mexico to the U.S.
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A man carries a woman and child on a watercraft on the Rio Grande.
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Mayckol Murillo
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago films a video blog at Raleigh-Durham International Airport before flying to the Rio Grande Valley to report on the influx of children crossing the border from Mexico to Texas.
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago films a video blog near the Rio Grande. She went to the area to report on the influx of children crossing the border from Mexico to Texas.
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago films a video blog at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Brooks County, Texas. She traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to report on the influx of children crossing the border from Mexico to Texas.
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago films a video blog and talks about visiting the McAllen facility where illegal immigrants are processed. She traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to report on the influx of children crossing the border from Mexico to Texas.
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WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago films a video blog about her travels to the Rio Grande Valley, where she reported on the influx of children crossing the border from Mexico to Texas.
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Leyla Santiago, The Journey Alone
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In an episode of "On the Record," reporter Leyla Santiago shares personal, emotional reaction and behind-the-scenes stories from her trip to the Texas-Mexico border.



State-by-state placement of unaccompanied children

Jan. 1, 2014 - July 7, 2014

US Southwest Border Patrol Stations

 


WRAL reporter Leyla Santiago

Reporter Leyla Santiago

Leyla was born in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. She is bilingual, and her fluency in Spanish was an asset in reporting from the border. She is a University of Florida graduate and has been recognized for her work by The Associated Press and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

WRAL photojournalist Zac Gooch

Photojournalist Zac Gooch

Zac has been in broadcast news for 10 years. He won two Emmys for his last documentary, When Kern Burned, and another Emmy for news editing. He is from Virginia and has also lived in Alaska and California. 

 

 Credits 

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