At 5:20 a.m., Efraín and Ulises have already set up their small table on the sidewalk, their griddle, and the food they need to prepare the burritos people buy until midday. They are two brothers who refused to give up. The restaurant where they worked was shut down, but they were not discouraged. For them, defeat is not part of their vocabulary.
“Don’t worry,” says Efraín. “We’re protected by the Lord’s mantle. We don’t even think about whether ‘la migra’ might show up. If we think about that, we lose focus on what matters most—this small business that allows us to make a living.”
Originally from Chiapas but longtime residents of Tijuana, four years ago they decided to cross the border to try their luck, find better opportunities, and build a better life.
“You know, we’re fighters. For us, working and moving forward is the goal. When we arrived, we lived in a van. Later our boss helped us settle into a trailer, and when the restaurant closed, we found a small place for my brother and me,” Efraín says.
Both brothers have iron discipline. They work seven days a week and are faithfully at their stand every morning, ready with burritos for people heading to work or coming off night shifts.
“Instead of eating frozen food from McDonald’s and places like that, here they get fresh, healthier food,” he says.
They worked for years at a restaurant in Los Angeles, but due to the owner’s decision and economic conditions, it closed. That’s when Efraín told Ulises, “Hey, we already know how to do this job. Let’s open our own little stand.”
They salvaged what the owner was throwing away from the restaurant and used it to help start their business. The community stepped in to help as well—some offered to buy supplies, give them rides, or assist in any way they could.
“The restaurant’s customers already knew us and cared about us. When they found out about our project, they’ve always supported us. I believe that if you behave well, good things will come your way—and we’ve seen that. The community has helped us a lot,” he adds.
ICE raids have not intimidated them.
“If it happens, it happens, but we don’t think about it. Fear paralyzes you. It keeps you from focusing on your business. We have a responsibility to help our mother—she’s in Tijuana. She was so happy about this project. She told us, ‘If I were younger, I’d go with you to help,’” says Efraín.
“My advice is to keep working and focus on the good things we’re doing. Everything else is a distraction—God will decide. Every morning I pray before going to work. I know He has plans for us, and He’s shown it. We know we’re just getting started. One griddle is no longer enough; soon we’ll buy another one, and who knows? We’ll keep growing.”
By the way, they named their business Los Dos Carnales.
