Parallel to the legal step, there is a transit between Guatemala and Mexico that is quite permeable by the river, either for smuggling or illegal migration. Numerous rafters make multiple daily trips from one side of the River Suchiate to another, avoiding the customs and migratory authorities.
This story is about everyday life at the border crossing of the river. The rafters earn their living by transporting people and goods between both banks of the river, in rafts constructed with simple wooden boards tied to pneumatic tractor chambers and maneuvered by a long wooden stick. In the area, there are several groups besides the rafters: those who are dedicated to loading and unloading the rafts, those who control and manage the trips, the people who capture passengers, vendors, even preachers.