Valle de Sueños

Valle de Sueños is a podcast miniseries that details an intense ten-day journey by advocates to shut down a makeshift tent refugee camp in the Mexican border town of Matamoros, Mexico. Laura Peña, a border advocate and attorney, narrates the experience through interviews with local U.S. border activists and migrants living under oppressive US policies in Mexico. Peña provides a compelling first-hand account of the geopolitical dynamics of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands as well as the human face of suffering and resilience that will inspire hope and inspiration for years to come.  
Read here  to learn more about co-creators, Laura Peña and Charlie Vela. Visit our website to learn more.

Episode 1: The Beginning of the End 
We launch Valle de Sueños on Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day to honor those who have journeyed and kept their resiliency, faith, and love despite the treacherous path to citizenship. Our Lady represents strength, hope, and access to a kind, loving world, which represents the dreams of those who sacrifice their lives as migrants. 
In episode 1, our host, Laura Peña introduces the binational community of Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas from her perspective as a borderland native. After providing contextual background of the complex humanitarian situation at the beginning of the new Biden Administration, she begins telling the story starting on Day 1 of the humanitarian operation to close the Matamoros refugee encampment. Would the first group of migrants be allowed into the U.S.? The listener is left in suspense. 
Interviewees:
Sister Norma Pimentel on Twitter and Facebook
Andrea Rudnik
Angel Olivo Garcia
Jodi Goodwin @ Facebook and Twitter

Episode 2: Things become Unraveled
The suspense is broken with the news that the first group of migrants is allowed to enter the U.S. Still, complications arise when a family is forced to decide to stay together in the refugee camp or separate, possibly for good. Laura shares vivid descriptions of the Matamoros refugee encampment as these dynamics play out.

Valle de Sueños Episode 3: Empowerment or Voluntourism?
Laura explains the dynamics of voluntourism as U.S.-based activists working in a makeshift refugee encampment in Mexico. She uncovers the power dynamics inherent between U.S. activists and the migrants living in the camp as they exercised self-determination.

Laura uncovers the dark underbelly of the Biden Administration’s humanitarian commitment. The migrants who had lost their court cases were at risk of being denied the opportunity to enter the U.S. Through the eyes of Jodi, a local border attorney, and Antonio, a migrant whose case was denied. The listener walks through the experience of the immigration process under the Migrant Protection Protocols.
Interviewees: Jodi Goodwin and Antonio
Music Recognition:  It’s Perilous - Michael Rothery; In Remembrance - Breathing Tides; Singularity - Lagua Vesa; Not a Game - Michael Rothery; Sub Twin - Jay Varton; Last Echos - Nylonia

Laura explores the acute challenges facing specific groups of migrants, including indigenous migrants, LGBTQIA migrants, Black migrants, and stranded mothers. As the days pass, the divisions inside and outside the encampment become more strained as the fate of this group of migrants is still hanging in the air. This episode is en memorium for the victims of the Brownsville violence on May 7th. 
Interviewees:
Charlene D’Cruz
Felicia Rangel
Andrea Rudnik
Angel Olivo Garcia
Jodi Goodwin
Music Credits:
Melted Mind - Max Anson
Ear to the Ground - Hanna Lindgren
Project Blue Book - Craft Case
Decision Through Vision - Max Anson
Rethinker - Max Anson
White Shoes - Frook

Laura walks through the final days of the Matamoros camp closure and reflects on today's state of the border and immigration. She also has more in store to share with the community so, make sure to sign up to stay in touch about what's next!