Regarding their story of how they got here – I have no information in that regard, other than my experience as a reporter. Given that experience however, I can tell you that the route for most Asians, Africans, etc. through Latin America towards the US begins in Ecuador, one of the few countries where they can actually fly to without needing a visa. Ecuador stands out in the world of requiring visas from almost no one. So their journey probably started there. They then make their way north illegally via land with the assistance of ‘coyotes’ at significant expensive (and peril).