The following reflective essay describes the literal journey of an undocumented immigrant who left his family in Jalisco, Mexico, as a teenager and eventually became a bilingual educator who earned two master's degrees and a Ph.D. in the United States. Within this narrative, the author not only describes the challenges in crossing into the U.S. but also weaves in lessons he has learned as an educator of other bilingual immigrant children. The "AMAE Journal" is proud to publish this compelling essay posthumously. Miguel passed away on November 25, 2015, after three months of battling liver cancer. He is survived by his wife, Araceli, and two sons, Miguel Alejandro and Andre. "El Cruce" is the opening chapter of Dr. Alvarez's unpublished 2015 dissertation, "The Role of Language in Students' Reading Trajectory: Exploring a Summer Reading Enrichment Program." Miguel Alvarez earned his PhD at the University of Texas--San Antonio in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies.