Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Sonic Trace

    Sonic Trace

    From La Burbuja: Mauricio

    A migrant travels aboard the infamous freight train, "The Beast."

    • Share
    KCRW placeholderBy Brian De Los Santos • Mar 31, 2014 • 1m Listen

    Mauricio Lopez Alfonso was 18 when he left Chiapas, Mexico. He was the youngest of three and decided to move after his brothers settled in Los Angeles. But in order to get here, he took one of the deadliest routes migrants ride on — la bestia (the beast). It's a freight train that connects Central American and Mexico. Mauricio remembers how he had to hang on to the train to hang on to safety.

    • KCRW placeholder

      Brian De Los Santos

      producer, 'Sonic Trace'

      Culture
    Back to Sonic Trace