José Barco, a 40-year-old Iraqi war veteran with a complex background, finds himself in Villahermosa, Mexico, after being deported from the United States. Born to Cuban refugees in Venezuela and raised in the United States, Barco's journey has been fraught with challenges. After serving 16 years in prison, he spent an additional 10 months in immigration detention, during which time efforts were made to deport him back to Venezuela, despite the challenges he faced as a veteran.

Despite legally having no recognized nationality, Barco's experience highlights the absurdity and tragedy faced by many individuals caught in the web of immigration and criminal justice systems. He expresses a deep sense of loss and injustice, particularly feeling that, as a veteran, he should have the right to be buried in a national cemetery in the United States but lacks the ability to live there due to his deportation. His story underscores the often-overlooked plight of veterans who face deportation, raising questions about the treatment of military service members in the immigration process.

Barco's situation is indicative of broader systemic issues, where individuals who have served their country can find themselves alienated and stripped of their rights. His relocation to Mexico, a country that is not his home, compounds the difficulties he faces as he navigates life in a place unfamiliar to him, despite the heat and landscape providing a semblance of familiarity. The story of José Barco serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding immigration, national identity, and the legacy of military service.