Undocumented Lives

- Hairo Cortes

"Well, it all started because of our economic situation in Mexico. My mom’s teaching salary was not enough to cover all the expenses and to sustain a family of three (mom, brother, and I). We never had money, most of the money that my mom received in her check was used to pay of the food from the previous week, my school, and was mostly used to pay back the people who had loaned us money when my mom couldn’t afford to make it that month, anyways, money never lasted for us. The frustration from not having enough money and her vision of a better life for my brother and I, led her to make one of the most important decisions of her life which was migrating to California. My grandfather was already established here in California however, he did not support my mom’s decision at all and refused to help us. My mom was able to obtain money by borrowing from her job, friends, and from one of my aunts, in order to pay for our risky, expensive journey. To be honest, I felt thrilled I saw it as a game, a game in which you completely pretended to be a different person, in which names were changed, and strangers pretended to be your parents, but most of all because I wanted to meet this new place where my grandpa lived. Thankfully, we arrived safely to California around Thanksgiving of 2002. I was five years old and not knowing a word of English I entered Prospect Elementary School and I would cry almost every day because on top of not knowing English, everything was so different and I felt like an outsider. My mom emmidiatly began looking for a job in order to pay off the money that was burrowed to us. She eventually did find a job, the typical “house cleaning job.” With 3 salaries now coming in we were able to rent a room and move out of the garage that my grandpa shared with other men. Now that I look back, I have no idea how we lived in those conditions in which you would have five people sleeping in a very small room. We ended up moving out from that room after a year and I remember our happiness because we were getting our own apartment. My Mom kept working and broke away from the cleaning company and started obtaining her own customers and continues to grow until this day."

“My name is María Isabel Cruz Peréz. In the U.S. all my documents read 'Maria Isabel Cruz'. Perhaps it's a dumb concept; but it does feel weird "losing" one of your names the moment you move to a different country. I remember feeling like something was taken away from my identity. I go by 'Isabel', but many people call me 'Maria' . Which is also odd. Is it so weird to have two names ? When I was in the 4th grade my mom made the controversial decision of relocating our little family to the U.S. She wanted to make sure my sister and I were not under any risks. It took her about two years to organize everything, eventually, we moved to Orange when I was in the 6th grade. I remember how unfamiliar and green this place looked when we first moved here. It was not on my plans to move to a different country, it was not in my plans to even move schools. But mom did it for the best, something I did not comprehend when it happened. It is very difficult to change environments in such a critical stage of life as is puberty. It is complicated, so complicated. But not impossible. Up to last year I had the intentions of going back to my birthplace after high school. Now multiple factors have changed. I understand why my mother wanted a change. I truly thank her.”

“Coming to the U.S five years ago was the best thing that my parents could've done for me. Although it was tough learning English, I overcame that challenge. Even though it wasn't my choice to be brought here, I thank my parents for it. My immigration status has affected me a lot because now my parents can't afford a university and my alternative choice is going to a community college. I know I will overcome this challenge and I will graduate from a university.”

“My name is Jesus, I came to the U.S. at the age of three with my brother. My dad was here first. He came to the U.S. in search of a job to provide food, water, clothes, and shelter for us in Mexico. Later on my parents made the decision to send my brother and I to the U.S. to receive a better education and so we could live better off. We arrived by car during the summer. After we came, my dad told my mom to immigrate to the U.S with us. She came through the desert, where she got caught twice and almost lost her eye. After the third attempt she was able to come around December, which my brother and I consider our Christmas gift. Living here has changed my life. I always wonder, what would I be doing or who would I become if I would have stayed in Mexico. My parents probably could not have afforded school for my brother and I. My life has greatly changed since the moment I arrived to the U.S. and I am grateful for my parents decision.”

“My life has changed completely here in the United States. I am a better version of myself: an educated woman, an independent woman, and a head of household woman. I was born in a small town in Mexico. I entered the United States illegally as a child. I was fortunate to benefit from the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Once I obtained my legalization, the sky was the limit. My journey of transformation has led me to question whether or not I could be who I am today in Mexico. The answer is no. Poverty, gender inequality, and gender roles in the small community where I was born would have prevented me from achieving what is known as the “American Dream”. I am proud of my humble beginnings but I am grateful this country gave me the opportunity and resources to become who I am today.”