Coming to America

Coming to America: A Perilous Journey is a true encounter of a mother risking a near-death experience to attain better lives for her children. In a country where opportunity is historically scarce for most hardworking citizens, many Haitians for decades have been desperately seeking the hope of a better future. To most Haitians, America holds the answer, and my mother was no exception. She wanted her children to have a better life than what Haiti had to offer. So with a heavy heart, she left us, six of us born to her in Haiti with my grandmother. She paid all the hard-earned money he had or could borrow to embark on a small fishing boat headed for Miami, risking her life along with 120 other brave and desperate souls on a perilous journey that very few Haitians survived.

About the Author

James Pascal, born in Haiti, the second eldest of eleven children. He immigrated to the United States in 1994 five months after graduating from high school. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served in several Sea, shore, and overseas commands and is currently serving onboard the USS Fort McHenry LSD 43. While serving, Pascal obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal as well as various unit and campaign awards.