By Lupe Lopez
Inez made the dangerous journey from Guatemala to the border in Tijuana. She believed that she had been lucky. She was able to make it to Tijuana without incident. When she arrived in Tijuana she kept to herself just as she had been warned. Within a few days, Inez was in San Diego happily working in a small restaurant meeting new people every day. There she met her first love. Ernesto worked for his uncle, the owner of the restaurant. Over the next few months, Ernesto and Inez became romantically involved. One night, Ernesto told Inez that they would be going to see a friend at a hotel. When they arrived at the hotel, they both went to the friend’s room and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, Ernesto pulled out the key and told Inez his friend had given him the key just in case. Inez didn’t think anything of this and went into the hotel room with Ernesto.
While waiting for the supposed friend, Ernesto began trying to get intimate with Inez. She refused and told him that she was not ready for this. He insisted. She continued to refuse. Inez was surprised when the man she had trusted became violent. Ernesto began beating her, then proceeded to rape her. He warned her that if she called the police, he would kill her. Meanwhile, a guest in the next room heard all the commotion and had contacted the police. Inez was crying and trying to get dressed when the police knocked on the door.