Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Place of birth: Durango, Mexico
Year of birth: 1987
Profession: Volunteer Community Organizer, Promise Arizona; would like to become a counselor
Hobbies: Soccer … “my whole life is organizing”

What is the town of Mesa, Arizona like?

I love the city that I’ve grown up in. I also realize it’s very conservative. It’s hard when you know that more and more anti-immigrant laws will be introduced here. It was a senator from Mesa who introduced the Arizona Senate Bill 1170.

Tell us your story. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Mexico and came when I was 11. Most of my family is undocumented, so I’m going through the same struggle as many in Arizona. A year and a half ago I started organizing about the Dream Act at Arizona State University with other students, who were also undocumented. It came to a point where we were doing a lot of actions. Promise Arizona then asked if could help them mobilize constituents.

What is your family like? How many siblings do you have?

I’m one of five children. My mom is a single mother. We’re definitely close, especially since immigrating. My mom is unemployed because of her status, so I’m the one providing for her and my little brother. My older sister and brother are about 9 and 10 years older, are married and out of the house, but we’re still close.

What are you passionate about and what are some experiences that made you who you are?

At 11 I started school in the U.S., and learned English like any immigrant does. When I graduated from high school I found out I was undocumented as well. In my second year at ASU I lost about 6 scholarships because of my status and couldn’t get in-state tuition (Proposition 300 denied in-state tuition to undocumented students).  Fortunately I received some private scholarships, which gave me hope, and was able to graduate with a degree in Psychology.

I do what I can to make money. My mom and I clean houses and we make food. My mom used to work in landscaping and I used to babysit when I was younger.

What would be your dream job if you could do anything?

I got a degree in Psychology because I want to be a counselor, maybe with families. I’d like to go to graduate school in counseling some day.

What has changed for you or how you think since the recent passage of immigration laws in Arizona?

It’s very unfortunate the way people in Arizona don’t even try to learn exactly what the law is. The law says that if you’re a citizen or a resident and you have an undocumented person in your house or are transporting someone who’s undocumented, you will also be charged as a criminal. Many people don’t realize this, how it impacts a wider circle of people and that they could be criminalized if they are with someone who’s their friend or employee and happens to be undocumented. They also don’t know that thousands more people will be in jail. It’s separating people racially. A lot of people are fearful because we don’t know what’ll happen. For example, I don’t know if my mom will come back if she walks out the door.

What are some solutions or positive steps you can be involved in?

I’ve been working for comprehensive immigration reform but that’s hard to achieve this year. So I’m working on the Dream Act — a bipartisan bill introduced in 2001 and reintroduced every year (undocumented students where were here before age 16 and for more than 5 years is eligible to get residency if they graduated from high school and complete 2 or more years in college or the military).

Categories: Arizona, comprehensive immigration reform, dream act, immigrant rights, immigrant stories, Youth