Marie Jeannard

And we got so sick. I was sick. My stepmom was sick. My brothers, we all was like sick. We were seasick. Till this day, I can't get in the ocean. They were on an oversized fishing boat. You know, it's a handmade boat. It wasn't, you know, and you use pedal, you know, you pedal the boat. There was no motor or anything like that.

And we got so sick. I was sick. My stepmom was sick. My brothers, we all was like sick. We were seasick. Till this day, I can't get in the ocean. They were on an oversized fishing boat. You know, it's a handmade boat. It wasn't, you know, and you use pedal, you know, you pedal the boat. There was no motor or anything like that.

Maybe 150 people. We were packing it like sardine. People was just on top of people. But the sea was rough, so we ended up only getting to La Tortue. And when we got there and we couldn't go any farther for whatever reason, we ended up having to head back. And when we head back, my stepmom say, I ain't doing this again. So we stayed in hiding for about a week, and we got back again.

Maybe 150 people. We were packing it like sardine. People was just on top of people. But the sea was rough, so we ended up only getting to La Tortue. And when we got there and we couldn't go any farther for whatever reason, we ended up having to head back. And when we head back, my stepmom say, I ain't doing this again. So we stayed in hiding for about a week, and we got back again.

This time, just Marie and her father got on the boat. Because I was, you know, I would be an orphan if my dad never come back, and I would be an orphan. So my dad say, if we all, if we're going to perish, we're going to perish together. I would not wish this up on my worst enemy because a person who's navigating the boat doesn't know where they're going, for one thing.

This time, just Marie and her father got on the boat. Because I was, you know, I would be an orphan if my dad never come back, and I would be an orphan. So my dad say, if we all, if we're going to perish, we're going to perish together. I would not wish this up on my worst enemy because a person who's navigating the boat doesn't know where they're going, for one thing.

It's like we're going to just navigate it. If we land somewhere, we land somewhere.

It's like we're going to just navigate it. If we land somewhere, we land somewhere.

If they would catch my dad, it would be all over again what I used to see when I was younger with people being beheaded and the worst, you know, being burned alive. And the only thing I could think of is If you're going to die, die on your own term. And we used to own a couple of fishing boats. So he loved the ocean.

If they would catch my dad, it would be all over again what I used to see when I was younger with people being beheaded and the worst, you know, being burned alive. And the only thing I could think of is If you're going to die, die on your own term. And we used to own a couple of fishing boats. So he loved the ocean.

So, you know, I didn't want to die, but I'm guessing, like, if that's how he's going to go, I think that's the way he would want to go.

So, you know, I didn't want to die, but I'm guessing, like, if that's how he's going to go, I think that's the way he would want to go.

So when the boat was intercepted, you know, got into this huge vessel, I thought it was a house on the ocean. You know, it's just like you couldn't even feel the movement when you were in the vessel. So we were processed. They issue us an ID with the number. Everybody was interviewed. Family stays together. I think we spent maybe three days on the boat in the Coast Guard.

So when the boat was intercepted, you know, got into this huge vessel, I thought it was a house on the ocean. You know, it's just like you couldn't even feel the movement when you were in the vessel. So we were processed. They issue us an ID with the number. Everybody was interviewed. Family stays together. I think we spent maybe three days on the boat in the Coast Guard.

Through Grand Van, you hear you were not going to the U.S. Finally, Marie found out where they were going. They say we were going to Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Through Grand Van, you hear you were not going to the U.S. Finally, Marie found out where they were going. They say we were going to Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Well, you know, we were lining up. They give everybody a little package, which have your blanket, soap, toothbrush. You got rid of what you had on. They give you a uniform. You got tested. You have to have tested again. Tested for what? People were getting tested to see if you're sick for whatever disease that you may have.

Well, you know, we were lining up. They give everybody a little package, which have your blanket, soap, toothbrush. You got rid of what you had on. They give you a uniform. You got tested. You have to have tested again. Tested for what? People were getting tested to see if you're sick for whatever disease that you may have.

My number was T1286. My father was T0126. I was only called by my name, by my dad or, you know, the other Haitians. But to everybody else, I was T1286.

My number was T1286. My father was T0126. I was only called by my name, by my dad or, you know, the other Haitians. But to everybody else, I was T1286.