The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life

Raúl and Ernesto are Salvadorian twin brothers who migrated to the United States to escape gang violence. Raúl and Ernesto’s story embodies the physical, emotional, psychological, and monetary struggles of unaccompanied migrant children. The twins live in northern California, along with their brother Wilber Jr. and Ernesto’s daughter, Isabella. Ernesto and Raúl have received their green cards and are legal United States residents.

Wilber Jr. is Raúl and Ernesto’s older brother. He migrated north seven years before the twins’ journey. When the twins arrive in California, Wilber Jr. provides them with shelter, clothes, and food, and he becomes their legal guardian. As of the publication of The Far Away Brothers, Wilber Jr. is an undocumented immigrant in northern California.

Wilber Sr., the twins’ father, is a farmer who is deeply attached to his family’s land. When his twin sons must migrate north, he uses his land as collateral to pay the twins’ coyotes. When the twins struggle in the United States to repay the debt, the land is put at risk. Wilber Sr. is a pious and ethical man who believes in the value of hard work. Throughout the story, he struggles to do what is best for his family in the complicated world of Salvadoran gangs.

Esperanza is Wilber Sr.’s wife and the twins’ mother. She and Wilber always wanted a large family; after several miscarriages and stillborn children, they achieve their goal, but they have many mouths to feed and little money.

Maricela is the twins’ older sister. She manages their debt while they are in the United States, and she dreams of going north. She has two children out of wedlock. The first, Lupita, is the result of a teenage fling with a Barrio 18 gang member, Sebastian, who refuses to accept responsibility for the child. Maricela has her second child with Cesar, who accepts responsibility for both children and provides support for Maricela and the children.

Ricardo is Wilber Sr. and Esperanza’s firstborn son. He is an alcoholic and abusive to Maricela.

The twins’ uncle Don Agustín married Wilber Sr.’s stepsister. Agustín is wealthy, gang connected, and looks down on the Flores family. His sons pick on the twins throughout their youth. When someone chops down Agustín’s tree, he blames Ernesto without evidence and threatens him with gang violence, inciting Ernesto to migrate north for his safety. When Agustín discovers Ernesto has migrated north, he is angered even more, which threatens Raúl’s safety and forces him to migrate north.

Sandra is the coyote who escorts both Ernesto and Raúl through Guatemala and Mexico. She does not accompany them into the United States but provides support via text message when they are lost in Texas. The twins also stay with Sandra’s family in Mexico for several days to recuperate after Raúl and Sandra are attacked and robbed by Agustín’s hired men in Guatemala.

Gabby is Wilber Jr.’s girlfriend in California. The twins live with Gabby and Wilber Jr. in San Jose and Oakland, where they also share an apartment with Gabby’s mother, Rosalinda, and her younger brothers. Gabby, along with Wilber Jr., provides support for the twins in the United States, even accompanying them to court dates.