In the bustling New York City subway system, María, a 31-year-old single mother from Ecuador, typifies the struggle faced by undocumented immigrants, hawking candy to sustain her daily life. The subway acts as her lifeline, where she sells sweets—M&Ms, Kit Kats, and Trident gum—to make ends meet, shuttling between stations and enduring long hours, all with her two-year-old daughter strapped to her back.

María represents a wave of Ecuadorian migrants grappling with limited opportunities due to their undocumented status. Facing aggression, insults, and the constant fear of police fines or losing custody of her child, María, along with other immigrants, perseveres in a bid for survival.

Their migration stems from Ecuador's economic hardships and rising violence, pushing individuals like María to seek a safer, more stable life in the US. Yet, the challenges persist in a city that, despite its influx of asylum seekers, lacks adequate shelters and comprehensive support systems. For these individuals, selling candy in the subway becomes both a means of sustenance and a precarious existence amid New York's immigration landscape.