When we arrive, everything is new inside and out. It feels like we are dreaming without knowing if it is sadness or joy what we are feeling. Many risks taken, many things left behind, family separation, many expectations formed for the future, the feeling of each and every one of us is different, although possibly we share a same feeling: uprooting.
The issue of immigration remains one of the most controversial and important to deal with, it is an issue that agglutinates and affects us in different ways. Violence, poverty and lack of opportunities in the countries of origin are some of the reasons for migration. Data from the United States Census Bureau for the year 2014 indicate that 17.4% of the total population of the country is made up of Latinas with 55.4 million people, of whom 25.4 million were registered to vote in The 2016 elections. By 2014 there were 11 million people living in the United States without defined migratory status; Meaning 25.5%, of the total immigrant population of the country.
The family disintegration caused by migration and the dangers faced along the way have very high emotional costs among the population, especially among undocumented and under-resourced migrants. “When my mom left I was 3 months old, I was lucky enough to grow up with my grandmother and she always instilled in me the love for my mom and I grew up with that, with the yearning to meet her and she did not have anger like many other children have To their parents because they have left them. I never pass on necessities because she always sent money for us to live well, but I wanted to meet her. ” Veronica, 31, came to the United States in 2005 to meet her mother who had emigrated from El Salvador in 1989 in the midst of a civil war. “I was 18 when I decided to come, it was very hard because I left my grandmother, I thought I would come only for two years, everyone I know intends to be here just for two years but little by little one is staying , Because here you see opportunities that are not in one’s country … I got caught twice on the way here, but I go back until I get through, because I wanted to meet my mom … “.
“I also thought to continue studying, in El Salvador I studied architecture but here I can not go to university for the papers. I wanted to go back to my country but my mother made me see how lucky I was to cross the border without any harm, not all people have the same fate. So I was forgetting to study and trying to outdo myself in other ways. It is very difficult because wages are very low because they are undocumented. I saw that being able to speak English would open doors for me and I began to learn. Little by little I found other opportunities because I like to do many things such as painting houses, washing windows, and I learned fast, now I also work in cleaning houses; Increase my chances and I found work in several things with what we managed to live; But there in our countries, without work can not be. “
With the arrival of Donald Trump, the immigration situation has been highlighted due to the declarations made during his election campaign, and to the policies related to the issue promoted by his administration from the first days of his presidential administration.
“So when he won the current president it was like a bucket of cold water because of the way he talked, what he says, how he won and what a racist he is,” says Veronica, who is currently married and mother of a Child of 8 years and girl of 4.
“Although we do not have papers we lived with the hope that at some point the past president could arrange things, could give at least a permit to work freely and improve our lives. Although I do not have papers, I now work, pay taxes and am an honorable person. ” According to data from the US Department of Labor in 2014; 27.3% of people working in construction are of Latin origin, 23.1% of those working in the countryside, forest, fishing and hunting, 22.3% of the total working in bars, restaurants and hotels, 17.2% Of those engaged in mining and oil and gas extraction, 17.2% of the transport and public service workers, 16.4% of the employees in the wholesale and retail trade; Another 16% of those working in business and professional services are 15.8% of industry employees, 11.5% of those working in education and health services and 11.4% in public administration. In 2007 there were 2.3 million businesses owned by Latino people.
“If someone asks me if I want to return I say no! I want my children to be happy and to grow up in a safe environment. El Salvador is very violent. If we have to leave here, if they do not want us, where do we go? My husband is from Guatemala but how are we going to start again if in our countries there is no work? And we are poor, here although with many sacrifices but we manage to get ahead, because we are working people “.
A report by The Partnership for a New American Economy showed that the immigrant population contributed $ 32 billion to local and state tax coffers in 2013 and $ 54 billion to the federation.
“I think that fear is the worst thing we can have because one gets nervous and does not let us do anything, it is better to be ready to face the situation that there is with the migra, but not to live mortified by that. I tell the people of the community to be calm, to prepare ourselves, to know our rights, to be honest with ourselves and the people we work with, because honesty is what gives us peace of mind, “concludes Veronica.
Our community is not alone, every day more people and social organizations are added to demand the respect and positive solution to the migratory situation, offering us their solidarity support and recognizing the economic contribution, cultural richness and joy that the diversity of all our communities Bring this country.
(Photo by Giuseppe Dezza)