The series of massive resettlements of thousands of refugees to the north of El Salvador was a well-organized effort and a very risky one. In October of 1987, more than four thousand refugees returned to El Salvador to resettle five communities that had been collectively and strategically chosen in the departments of Chalatenango, Cabañas, and Cuscatlán. This became the largest resettlement in the history of Latin America. This initial resettlement, which included Guarjila and its neighbor, Los Ranchos, was the first of a total of seven resettlements during the following two years.
 Those that came from Mesa Grande were willing to make the trip by foot, but at the last minute UNHCR supported them with buses to transport people. On the border of El Salvador and Honduras, a line of buses extended for kilometers as Salvadoran military officials interrogated and registered all the people that wanted to cross over to Salvadoran territory. The presence of international observers facilitated the crossing. The people of Guarjila remember that it was a hot and long day. Some looked for shade and slept under the buses. But they also felt immense joy to return to their country. The road to the abandoned hamlet of Guarjila was impassable by bus. The last part of the trip was done by foot, and they had to prune the brush that was in the way.