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As the photojournalist on Adreana's story in Veracruz and someone who has lived and worked in various places around Mexico, I'm left wondering how fully Mexican families understand what our Oregon institutions expect of them in these cases. 

Mexico and the US have distinct legal and social service sysytems. In addition to cultural and linguistic differences, Mexican families may come from very different educational and economic backgrounds than our US case workers.

When talking face to face with Adreana's aunt/abuser in a Veracruz prison, she said that she thought she only would have to care for Adreana temporarily - until her brother (Adreana's father) got his act together. She complained that the money he sent the family in Mexico to help with Adreana was not sufficient.

Whether this is true or not, her words certainly raise a number of questions.

Faith Cathcart

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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