This author in Mendota says Trump is wrong about migrants: Here’s why

MENDOTA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The City of Mendota honored award-winning journalist Soudi Jimenez on Saturday with an intimate gathering, celebrating his latest book, Migrant Echoes.

Amid the Trump Presidency’s ongoing rhetoric surrounding mass deportation and the President’s campaign promises, Jimenez says he feels compelled to share migrant stories to disrupt Trump’s narrative.

“In these last couple of years, a racist and xenophobic narrative has grown incrementally,” Jimenez said. “All migrants are looked at as criminals, rapists and thugs. But we’re not like that.”

Jimenez argues that the White House has failed to recognize the contributions of migrants in the United States

“Talking about migrants in a book like this one is a way to shut down this xenophobic narrative flourishing in the United States today,” Jimenez said. “Migrants are present in the movies, in the sciences, education, politics and at the end of the day we’re contributing.”

Jimenez says he comes from a small town in El Salvador near the border of Guatemala, and he’s sure many people who he grew up with would be surprised to see him as a career journalist.

“I come from a forgotten part of my country,” Jimenez said. “When I was a kid, cars didn’t even come through there.”

Jimenez says his humble beginnings are part of what drew him to Mendota, which he says reminds him of home.

“A lot of the time the media is looking at other stories and we’re overlooked, but there is a warrior community here,” Jimenez said. “I identify with a lot of what happens here in Mendota.”

The Mayor of Mendota, Victor Martinez, is also from El Salvador and says he and the city are proud to have a small part in Jimenez’s book and contribute to uplifting migrant stories.

“We’re so happy to have Soudi here in our city and have him capture stories of migrants here overcoming,” Martinez said.

Stories like that of Francisco Tuilo Vargas, who came from El Salvador to the United States in the 80s.

“It’s always hard. Whenever anyone comes here they face discrimination,” Vargas said. “But back then, authorities were worse than they are now.”

Vargas recalls running from migrant authorities “every day,” and says even though it’s hard, it is the migrant experience to overcome.

“When people come to this country they’re looking for a better life,” Vargas said.

Jimenez says stories like Vargas’ are important to highlight and offer people in the United States a chance to see how ordinary people in their community have lived extraordinary and inspirational lives.

“People may be surprised to find that people living around them living simple lives have transcendental, magical stories to tell,” Jimenez said.