Geraldo Salas worked as a cop starting at the age of 22. Over the next eight years he found himself getting deeper into the corruption within the system, taking bribes and giving cuts to some of his bosses for better beats to work. He started abusing drugs and alcohol, staying out at nightclubs with friends and away from home for days at a time. This lead to being thrown in jail himself for a week. When he got out his wife had left him with their kids, and he was fired from his job. He had nothing. He was told about his cousin in Laguna Beach, California and he went to live with him and start a new life.
He crossed the border illegally and with little problem. He would began to turn his life around there while working at restaurants. He became sober and was sending money home to his ex-wife and kids. After three years he was fired from his job when it was discovered that he was illegally in the US. He went back to Mexcio on his own, but didn’t like being there. He wanted to go back to the US and after a few failed attempts he managed to get back across in Arizona, only to be robbed, extorted and attack by traffickers. Some friends picked him up and brought him to California. He wasn't happy and living in the US was more difficult this time. After two years he returned to abusing drugs and alcohol, became homeless and lost everything again.
He found his way home to Mexico City and now lives with his mom. He runs an Agua Fresca stall at a local market that’s in a small food court where other family members also have food stalls. He now spends his time trying to remain sober, reconnecting with his kids and again finding his path to a better life.
Portrait - Mexico City, Mexico on July 27, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas, right, begins opening his Agua Fresca stall with the help of his nephew in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
People wait in the seating area of the food court at the market where Geraldo Salas runs his Agua Fresca stall in Mexico City, Mexico on July 25, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas takes inventory and checks over his Agua Fresca stall in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas, left, eats with his sister and nephew after the food court closes and discuss what they need for their inventory in Mexico City, Mexico on July 27, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
The back counter of Geraldo Salas’s Agua Fresca stall in Mexico City, Mexico on July 25, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas speaks with his daughter, Gabriela Salas, during a break in customers in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2017. Since returning home, Geraldo Salas has been working to reconnect with his kids as he also works on staying sober. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas sits in his room at his mom’s house where he is currently staying as he gets back on his feet after returning from the United States and tries to remain sober and reconnect with his kids in Mexico City, Mexico on July 27, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas looks through photos that he had in storage of his kids childhood in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
Geraldo Salas, top left, attends church with his mother in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2017. (Photo by Joseph Pocs)
