For the past 16 yrs, Mauro Rios Parra has sold paletas & ice cream on the streets of Pico-Union, one of LA’s densest cities and among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Nearly every day for 16 yrs, he’s stuffed the same pushcart with more than 300 icy desserts. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-02/pico-union-paletero

Being a paletero isn’t easy, but the pandemic has really put a dent in sales. With schools and parks closed, & ppl sheltering in place, much of his clientele vanished, sales dropped. But Rios says he loves his job. “It’s fun and it’s distracting.”

In 2002, Rios left his home & family in Oaxaca for the first time and trekked to the U.S. He struggled to earn a decent living in Mexico, and he didn’t want his children to suffer the poverty he had as child. “I’m going to leave so that you can have a better life,” he told them.

One night, Florida police stormed the home he shared with 12 migrants and Rios was detained. He spent a month in a detention center before being deported. Two years later, he crossed the border again and came to L.A.

He hasn’t seen his family since. But his sacrifices have been worthwhile. His children became a doctor and lawyers. In two years he plans to return to Oaxaca. He won’t come back.

Beautiful photos by @dania_maxwell.