Thousands of Teens Are Risking Their Lives to Enter the U.S.

Teen Vogue interviews migrant migrants in Tapachula , Mexico , on the border between Mexico and Guatemala .

Attempted migration from Latin American and Caribbean countries to the U.S. has reached record highs this year .

The migrant's mother, Jimena , says she is looking for a safe place to raise her child.

Thousands of Venezuelans are trekking about 4,000 miles through seven countries to the U.S. border.

They must cross the Darién Gap , a 60-mile stretch of jungle with no roads between Colombia and Panama .

Migrants typically spend between seven and twelve days there, following a river that snakes north.

The terrain can deceive, and dozens lose their way and die along the path.

Fabian knows to be wary of smugglers, even though they may promise an earlier arrival date and a smoother experience for the price of several thousand dollars . “We don’t have social lives right now," he says. "All I can think about is getting over the border and finding a better future. I couldn’t get distracted from that even if I wanted to, because the journey consumes you.” Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take .