I was 3 1/2 years old when I came to this country from Mexico, but everything changed three weeks before we came here. My mom had been working at this really nice hotel for over three years and ended up meeting this American. They got married three or four month after they met and my brother, two sisters and me accepted him as our step-father. One day my step-father came to the house and said to my mother that "I would love to take you and the kids to the United States, so I can give you and the kids a better life." We ended up taking a road trip to the United States. He took my mom, my brother and me. Our sisters would fly up later. We were on the road for almost 6 hours and it was in middle of the night. My step-father was driving with my mother on the passenger side and my brother behind my mother and me behind my step-father. My step-father ended up passing out and we slammed into the back of a semi. God was looking out for me and my step-father, but not so much for my mother and brother. My step dad ended up waking up from a coma two weeks later and the first thing he thought about was my mom and kids. He didn't know what happened but his sister told him the whole story about how they ended up flying him to the USA and they took me back to my grandmother. As soon as he heard what happened he didn't think twice. It took him a couple of days to find my grandmother's house cause he's only been there once but he found us. He apologized to my grandmother for everything that happened and said all he wanted to do is keep that promise to my mom. So he took me and my two sisters to the USA and we ended up very successful in life.
Jose B.
San Diego CA

I am legally living in the USA since 2004. In 2004, I came here for Master's degree from a very reputed university. I met my husband while at college. We have been legally working since last six years. We legally filed for Green Card approval last year and my husband is waiting for a decision on his application filed in April 2012. The Green Card process itself takes a long time (6 - 8 years). But it usually takes around 3 - 4 months for the initial application to be processed. It has taken almost an year and we have not heard a word. Since the first step is still pending my husband will run out of his work visa next month and will have to stop working. All because people at the office of the Department of Labor are not doing their job or over loaded. Why is it so difficult to live legally in this country? Shouldn't this be easier. We are paying taxes, social security, and all the immigration fees.
SD
Germantown, MD

I'm 24 years old. In two months it will be 2 decades of living in this country illegally. I'm the youngest of 5 and came to the US with my mother in 1993. We had nothing in Mexico and the only way we were getting through was by my father who was already in the US to send us money. When we arrived two years later my father got deported. My mother worked in the fields picking tomatoes, green peppers and strawberries so we could eat. It was still not enough. My older brother and sister who were only 12 and 13 years old when we came to the US had to give up their education and help my mother work. I can't thank them enough for their sacrifice that led to the 3 youngest in the family to proudly graduate with a high school diploma. I have never felt like an "American". To me being an American means having FREEDOM. Free to be whatever you work hard for and always having a fair shot and not being held back by your Race, Gender or Sexuality. In my case it's my illegal status that keeps me down and unable to better my life. To ICE I'm a criminal for being brought to this country when I was 5 yrs old. I have never been in any trouble with law enforcement but have always feared that at any moment someone in my family can be separated and sent back to a country that doesn't feel like home. The US is where we feel at home but unfortunately we don't yet have the freedom that most Americans take for granted. We are a family without a country and have been for too long now! I have been married for 2 yrs to a US citizen and have a beautiful 1 year old and have been relentlessly pursuing a Medical career that is not coming without more struggles..
Rene
Tampa, Florida

I am a U.S. citizen having to live separately from my husband. Immigration gave him 10 years to be out of the country. It is difficult to be going back and forth to visit him in Mexico. I refuse to leave my country. As a U.S. citizen I feel I don't have to! We have a 9 month baby and of course he missed his birth and now he's missing his first words, first crawl, first steps, everything!!! I don't understand these laws. We were trying to do right by filing for his residency, but instead we get a big 10 years! My husband is a hard working man, no criminal record, doesn't drink nor smoke, nor do any drugs. What kills me the most is that we're newly weds and this is how we get to spend our beautiful new life as a married couple, separated!!!! This has to change, instead of uniting us they are separating us.
Clara
Bakersfield, CA

I came to this country when I was 20 years old. I had to learn the language. It was hard at first. I didn't want to speak. I got my first job at McDonald's. My arms are all burned now because of their frying pans. I put myself through college and graduate with honors. I don't have my family member in this country and I miss them dearly. I'm just working hard now so I can bring at least my parents here. My mom is diabetic and I hope she will receive a better care in the US.
Dela
Minneapolis, MN

I'm a US citizen married to a Mexican immigrant. Four years ago he was denied his waiver for 10 years. I love my husband so I picked up the family and moved to Mexico with him. Problem is that there are little advantages for my children here in Mexico. You have to pay for school. My children no longer want to speak English. My husband needs his visa for are children's sake. We are a family and stand against being divided. What happened to GOD BLESS THE USA?
Veronica
Pedro Escobedo, QTR MEXICO

I am a US citizen and I am married to a wonderful man. He is illegal from Guatemala and we have 2 children together and they are 5 and 1. I don't know what we would do if he got taken from us. He works hard to help us. We both have hired a lawyer and then got a different one. We don't know what else to do. But I would hate if he had to leave.
Lisa
Sebring, Florida

My parents brought me to California when I was just 1month old and since then I lived in the U.S.A. My parents never fixed my documentation so I when I grew up learned that I wasn't the same as everyone. My whole life I just wanted to be a legal citizen. 2011 was a really awful year. My dad owned a body shop and on the way to work we get pulled over by an ICE agent in unmarked Tahoe. He proceeded to ask my dad for his license and told him he was speeding. My dad said he wasn't and the agent told my dad to get out of the car. The agent told him that he was in USA illegally and took him in the back of his squad car. He asked me what my name was and I told him. He asked me if I was a citizen of this country and I didn't respond. So he told me to get out and arrested me too. I just don't know what to do and wish I could go home and live my life
Sal
Tijuana, Mexico

I came to the U.S. when I was one. My parents came months before I did to make sure they had a foundation to raise me. I always knew I was illegal, but I never really knew what to do about it. I'm 14 years old now and worried about my illegal status. Now that I'm going into high school I freaks me out that I can't get a permit or get a good job. My dream is to become a world renowned dermatologist. Hopefully, a miracle happens and help all of the adolescents with the same situation. I pray for a miracle every day.
CP
New York

Me and my 13 year old miss my husband. ICE and border patrol took him away. I really hoped that the marriage license would count. It is not fair that we can not be together yet we are legally married. It really broke our hearts that he got taken away.
Mrs Acuna
Ajo Arizona

My husband was taken from me for 7 years. I hear the women in these stories and I feel your pain. I was left with a child with seizures and ADHD. He is a special needs child and yet immigration did not care. They told me he did not count. His penalty was 10 years for being brought so young here. So I did what was best. I sent my husband to Tijuana found him a decent room for $50 a month and every 3-4 weeks I get on a greyhound bus and spend a couple of days. Ladies, be strong. This is temporary. Do not let them break your spirits. My husband left January 31, 2006 to Juarez and never came back. He is coming home this February 2013, I am scared to start over with him. I got so used to living on my own. I know the love is there, if you trust your spouse and he is a good man, there is nothing we cannot overcome. One thing I learned, do not listen to others when they say negative things about your spouse being on the other side. Not everyone thinks the same, communication between each other is the key. God bless you and pray strongly for your loved ones.
Rosa
Westminster, CA

I am naturalized US citizen and my husband Abbas is a citizen of Pakistan. We have been married since 2003 and the validity of our marriage has never been in doubt. Abbas works really hard and is a very responsible husband. He has been in the U.S. since 1991 and has paid taxes all the time. We have filed joint tax since we got married for almost 10 years. He has no criminal record. I cannot work because of medical illness and I depend on my husband. I am often in very much pain and cannot stand or walk for long periods of time. The problem is that my husband Abbas has a deportation order. He reports to the ICE office every three months. This time ICE gave him a last chance of three months and told him bring the travel ticket March 13, 2013. I cannot imagine life without my husband. He is the one who cares for me, takes care all of my needs, and completes my life. If I stay in the United States without my husband, it will be impossible for me to work and keep our house. I will be on public assistance charity and the charity of my family. Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The police are unwilling and unable to protect anybody that is not politically connected, but even more so for people like my husband and myself who will both be thought of as "rich Americans." We will be the target of kidnapping by common thugs who believe they will have an easy target. I believe there must be a place for us in this country. I am only asking for a little mercy so that we can live out our lives in this country in peace.
Sumera
Jersey City

I have been married with my husband for 10 years we have 4 children together. He entered the US Illegally. We recently filed the I-130 and got our approval and then we did the affidavit of support but I am so scared to send it. I am going to send it Monday and we need to see when he would get his interview in Honduras and see if he is eligible for I-601. I have been driving myself of the wall just to think that he may have to face a ten year bar. I am a US citizen concerned for my loved one, not just my husband but my children. They have never been apart. I just pray God is with us and with everyone in this situation.
Maria
Grand Rapids MI

My husband and I have been married for almost 10 years. He was born and raised in Switzerland and came to the US in 2001 because we decided to get married. We are both Croatian, but I hold a US passport and was born in America. My husband has a Croatian passport. 10 years ago, when his English was not so good, he was asked by immigration officials if his intent to come to the US was to get married? He answered yes because he wanted to marry me. Well, his answer was wrong. He committed a crime. He should have said no. In the US you are not allowed to come to America with the intent to marry. Since then we have had 3 kids. He has never been arrested or broken the law. Yet when he decided to apply for citizenship he had some problems. He has been forced to wear an ankle monitor and report everywhere he is going. We are not even allowed to go out to dinner or a movie. Why? Because he answered yes. Or maybe because he is from Croatia? Or maybe because the US government is becoming like a communist country. Taking away basic freedom from individuals. Switzerland is a good county, in my opinion, better than the US. He had no reason to leave other then he loved me. And now his ultimate love turned out to be a punishment. In the end, I am only sorry that this is his American experience.
Mariana
San Francisco, CA

I was born in Mexico, my parents decided to come to the U.S illegally, they decided bring me and my sister along. I was 2 years old, and my sister was about 5. I know nothing about Mexico. This was in 1998, Now that I'm almost done with high school i was looking at colleges and many won't let me in because of my status. I wanted to be a doctor for the U.S. armed forces, but it feels like it's going be a really hard road for me.
No name given
Omaha Nebraska

I came here in 2001 with my family on a tourist visa, and a month later my US citizen uncle petition for my mom and the rest of the family to get a green card. The waiting time for a brother to make a sibling legal is over 10 years. Unfortunately, my mom passed away from cancer last years and many lawyers told my dad, my brother and I we cannot go ahead with the petition. We found a law for surviving family members and maybe my dad will be able to benefit from it. To make it worse, my brother and I have aged out, meaning we are older than the age limit to get a green card. After waiting 11 years in line to get a green card, we are now at a dead end. This system is broken and doesn't reward those who try to do things in the legal way. If we could sell our house, we would leave, but we can't. And my mom is buried here, so I think it would be too painful to never be able to visit her again.
Sara
Boston, MA

I have a mother who was deported five years ago at the age of 75. My mom had ten kids. We are all American kids. My mom worked all her life with a social security that was given to her. I am 40years old and the youngest of them all. My mom is alone in Mexico trying to adapt to life there. In Mexico it is hard to trust people cause they think my mom has money cause all her kids are Americans. Since my mom has been in Mexico she has been robbed and scammed out of what little money she had. At her age what wrong can she do? Just give us these last years left with her. We will take care of all expenses for her. It will not cost the government anything at all.
Darlene,
Stockton, CA

My fiance ran away when he was 13 years old. He stopped at a fast food restaurant to buy himself some food. This is where he met the family who would change his life forever. They told him that they would take him somewhere safe. They brought him here illegally and dropped him off at a shelter. He doesn't remember the name of the family or even what they look like. He's been on his own ever since. About a year ago we met and fell in love. About five weeks ago we found out I'm pregnant (9 weeks now) and I'm scared. He works at a restaurant. He works 10+ hours a day without a break and doesn't make much money. I'm a disabled veteran who has a 2 year old from a previous marriage. He is a U.S. soldier and he will never let us move to Mexico if my fiance is deported. I will never be able to leave my child here and live in Mexico either. My health care that I can't go without is through the VA (veterans affairs) and there would be no way to continue my treatment in Mexico. I'm so lost.
Krystal
Austin, TX

My husband is a native of Dominican Republic and he came here with his mother and brothers when he was 14 for a better life. He came here legally and was here with a green card from the time he was 14 until just this year when he got deported at the age of 36. When he was in his late teens early 20's he got into trouble and changed his life around. We met when he was cook at my family's restaurant and we married 2 years later. When my husband went to renew his green card it was approved and sent to our home. Two months later immigration picks him and takes him to a detention center telling him he is illegal. We go through the motions and fight for 8 months and 10 thousand dollars later he gets deported. Nothing the lawyer can do because of a felony from 14 years ago.
Rebecca Ann
Grand Rapids, Michigan

My dad has been living in NYC for more than 25 years. He is a hard working man and spends most of his time working. He works unloading trucks and sells plants. He will often tell me that as a young child he was abandoned by his parents and raised by his grandparents. He will tell me that he never had much to eat and lived in a small house his grandfather had built. My father loved celebrating Christmas in Mexico because it was the only time when he would receive goody bags and the neighbors would invite him to eat at their houses. Since my father lived with his grandparents, he only ate whatever his grandfather could afford. Once old enough to work, he saved up money and helped his grandparents out. But soon both his grandparents died and he was left alone. He met my mother and promised her that in a year they were going to get marry. He came to NYC and in a year returned to Mexico to marry my mom. My parents have been living in NYC for more than 25 years. I am 18 year old. I hope that soon I can help my parents have a better life and return to Mexico.
Selena
Bronx,NY

I was brought to the U.S. when I was four I believe. I was brought up here with only faint memories of the country I was born in. I grew up always hearing about "aliens" and illegal immigrants. At first I thought they were talking about real aliens which made me feel scared. it wasn't until I got into middle school that I started understanding it wasn't Martians they were talking about, it was me. I know how hard life can be and truly what we fail to see is the other side of our debate. I can tell you if I had a chance to be born here or be born in Mexico and then be brought over here I would still choose the latter so if I ever got citizenship I would appreciate it and not flail it around like I deserve it. In every government action there will be someone to suffer but not taking action is when everyone suffers. For we cannot imagine how other people can cheat their way in nor can we understand how other people can break away a family until we step into their shoes.
No name given
California

My dad arrived to the US as an illegal immigrant at age 16 in the 80's. By 1986 he was eligible to apply for the amnesty that President Reagan allowed. My dad at that time worked in the fields picking peaches and other fruit out in Delano, Californias so automatically he got his social security number. Then when he got his residency card and went to renew a couple of years later it turned out to be fake! Turns out that lady that sold it to him was fake! So now my dad is just left with a social security... now my mother is a illegal immigrant as well. She came into the states in 1990 and lived in Los Angeles then in 1992 she had me. Pretty soon after I was born we moved to Dallas where both of my younger brothers were born. Now my parents haven't been back to Mexico to visit their families in ages. We've been to lawyers to ask about their situation and all they tell us is to wait till I turn 21 so I can petition them into getting their residency.... now we are just counting the days till i turn 21 (which is in 6 months) I just hope my parents get approved because my dad's been here for 30 yrs and my mom has been here for 22... I think it's time the US can forgive them!
Ariana
Dallas, Texas

I came to America in 2002 with a student visa having my studies sponsored by my in-laws. I didn't know what I was signing up for. I finished my studies and tried to find a job with a work permit. In the mean time I had to work hard for the in laws to pay the loan from sunrise to sunset including weekends. I overstayed my visa. Besides working hard for them, they kicked out me twice of their house knowing that I didn't have a place to go. I finally decided to leave. As 2012 I'm still in the US with an uncertain future. Can't get a driver's license, can't get a real job. Once in awhile i still hear thatI need to pay their money back after so much work. Hopefully something will change soon.
No name given
Lawton Oklahoma

My name is Lena and I'm a US citizen. My kids father is from Mexico City and he being detained right now and I'm also pregnant with our 3 child and dealing with lupus and have arthritis in my body especially in my back and neck and legs also over weight, severe depression and scared I'm going to lose my child from all this that's going on. I need him here to take care of me and the children. We've been together for 10 years now and I'm so lucky to have him in my life. He does everything for me without complaining and understands all the pain and suffering I'm going thru. I'm also scared he might try to commit suicide if they try to send him back. I cried when I went to go see him in the immigration. He cried and said I don't want to go back I want to stay here with you and my babies and so I can take care of you. He's scared something is going to happen to me because im really sick. My children don't know what could happen to me. I don't want them to worry about me . I just don't know where to turn.
Lena
Seattle WA

I am a US born citizen and have been married for over 4 years to my wonderful husband. He entered the US illegally over 7 years ago. He had come legally with a visa other times before with his parents. As he became older he made bad decisions that forced him to flee his country without telling his family. He now deeply regrets that decision because he is living in fear daily of deportation. We have two children together. My daughter 10 is from another relationship but in every way that counts he is her "papi". Our son is 3 and adores his father. My husband is very intelligent and full of ambition but sadly he can not continue his education here. We have great jobs contractors and are very happy living here. Recently a friend was pulled over for driving with an expired license. He is an illegal alien also and has a blind son to care for, so he does not have a lot of options. His country does not have programs available for blind children. We have spoken to three different lawyers and paid thousands of dollars only to find out that we don't have many options. The only thing we can do to obtain residency for my husband is for him to return to his country and apply there, and hope that he doesn't have to wait ten years to return. This is not an option because he is our provider! I lay awake at night thinking about this. I am worried that because our friend was living with us that once immigration finds out our friend is illegal they may come search my home and find out my husband is illegal. This is no way to live!! I cannot be separated for ten years from my husband, and his country is too dangerous for us to live there. I pray that one day soon there will be a change in immigration laws that allows for families to stay together. Thank you for listening to our story and God bless you all!!!
Tamara
Florida

When I was young I considered myself an American. I ate hot dogs and hamburgers on the 4th of July, and i even have a cousin who served his country in the Iraq war. I am one of five children, of which three are US citizens and two are not. I am not. My parents are not "legal" either. Currently my father is in Mexico after being deported. I live in an area where half of all people are Mexican and half are white. The white residents seem to think that all Mexicans should be deported. This would have terrible consequences for America because nearly all migrant workers, contractors, and people involved in certain industries are illegals. Life for an immigrant is hard. We are often treated poorly and cannot have licenses or other necessities. I have lived in the united states for most of my life and because i am older than sixteen I do not benefit from this new law either. All Americans except natives are immigrants. Why can't there be some leniency to these new immigrants. I understand deporting criminals but why hard working non-criminals such as my father who lived in America for twenty five years. My father was deported under president Barack Obama. He has deported more immigrants than any other president. I heard him say once he would change immigration laws not make them stricter. But still I love America.
Ruben
Illinois

My parents are Guatemalan immigrants and I was born in the United States and my parents were having problems so they decided to immigrate to Germany. There were many Latin Americans in Europe and after 10 months my parents moved to Amsterdam the Netherlands. When I was 20 I decided to move to my home town Montclair California then 8 years later to Pomona California and that's where I live today.
Ryan
Pomona California

I was brought here illegally by my parents when I was 11 years old. I started middle school right away and since I did not know any English, I struggled to communicate with teachers and friends my first years. When I graduated high school my dad, brother and I got our residency("green card"). I wanted to go to college but my parents did not have the financial means to send me so I decided to join the military. After 2 tours in Iraq, I feel proud to have served the US military. I acquired my citizenship while in the military too. I hope that one day we can all be given a chance to be "equal".
Milton
Laurel, MD

I was born in Mexico and I came to the USA when I turned 6 by Visa (tourist). My mom and me stayed here and now I have over 10 years here. I was wondering if there's any way I can become a resident? I go to school and live a normal life like everybody else, but I have the disadvantage of not being born here. I really want to go to college and have a good job.
Jimmy
Hayward, CA

My parents brought me to the USA when I was about 2. I'm 20 years old now and have a beautiful baby girl. I happened to fall in love with another immigrant so now our small family is suffering. I can't work or drive. I was attending school but it breaks my heart that I can't finish my career. I am now very depressed. I feel stuck because the place that my heart calls home doesn't want me. I recently attended a CNA orientation I was very excited. I stayed two hrs and at the end I was denied for not having a social. I was destroyed. I cried the whole way home with my baby in the car. I'm just trying to provide for my baby. Why should she suffer? She's a citizen. I've thought of going back to my country, but I don't know anything about my birthplace. It's so scary and I don't know anyone and I speak and write more English than Spanish. I love the USA this is the place that feels like home. I'm so desperate!
Lupita
Pomona California

My husband and I have been together for 12 years now. We met in 2000 and legally married in 2005. My husband is now 31 and was brought here with his mom illegally when he was 15. My husband has been deported 2 times already. The second one, he was barred from the U.S. for ten years. We have 4 children together. My husband speaks English, writes, and reads it as well. I wake up every day worried that it might be the last morning I wake up and still have him by my side. Everywhere I go seeking help on fixing his status, I'm told it is impossible. I think it's unfair that I have to live in fear wondering if my husband/children's father will be taken from me. We belong together. It just hurts to know that I may one day lose him.
Jeri Alexander
Bryan, Texas

I was brought to the US on my mother's 35th birthday. I had just turned 5 a week before and I only remember saying goodbye to everyone, boarding a plane and crying because I was terrified of planes. When we arrived, I remember it was really cold. I am now 13 years old and extremely depressed because of my legal status. I've known my whole life I'm illegal but now that I am 13 and soon entering high school, it has been scaring me that I have 4 years until I have to face the real world and probably have a worse life than I already do. I am not poor but I am not wealthy either. My father is the only one with a stable job but will soon lose it because he license is close to expiring. I love him and I family to death and I am very scared because I don't know what we are going to do without his job. We are not criminals. We've never done anything wrong. I don't have the best grades but I have ADD and Dyslexia. I speak both English and Spanish but I feel both American and Mexican. Outside, I live the life of a typical American teenager but when I go home, I become a Spanish speaking Mexican girl. It doesn't bother me, but my family needs to understand that we are in a different country and need to adjust. I don't mean to forget our Mexican roots (which I'm very proud if) but I have become more American. After all, we ARE in America. My dream for now is that America opens her eyes and realizes that this country is MADE up of immigrants and NEEDS them. We are not here to make this country a bad country. We are here for a better life! I don't understand why Americans don't see that. I just pray to God that everything goes well with my family. I love them and have no idea what I would do without them. At times I get angry for either not being smart enough to have me be born here or never coming to this country at all but when I think about it, they made the right decision and we are better off here, even if it means having a crappy life for a while.
PATC
Sacramento California

I met my husband at a local diner, where we were both employed together, it was love at first sight, every time I saw him I would get butterflies in my stomach, he made me laugh, I was finally happy for once in my life, I had just broke off with my ex of 10yrs that I have 2 beautiful girls with, it was a horrible relationship I was battered and abused by this man, so when I met my husband I thought that all my troubles were over, I thought that there was nothing left for me but a happy ending and that I would live the rest of my days happily ever after, but little did I know that my problems were just beginning, I knew when I met him that he was not a citizen, I didn't think much of it I figured that we would just get married and that it would all resolved. That didn't happen. We were together for 4 great years and we had two wonderful boys together. Life was great and we were doing well until one morning he was leaving for work he gave me a kiss as always and said I love you, I will see you later babe. About 20mins later I received a call from him he said that ICE picked him up and that they are detaining him for deportation. I couldn't believe it. We are married and have a family together, not to mention that he was my only means of support. I have 4 children, how am I supposed to take care of them alone? It was 4 days before I could even see him, they had him on lockdown as if he was a criminal. This man had never in his life done anything bad and now there he is locked up like a rapist or thief. Why is this country so cruel? Why is this happening to innocent people? These people are not aliens, they have names, they bleed the same blood as a US citizen does. So why are they being discriminated against? My husband is still locked up in Delany Hall in Newark NJ. We are trying to see what we can do to stop the deportation process, but it is taking a lot of time and money and I feel like we are running out of both. My prayers are all that I have left. I pray that all the cases that I have read on this page and that all other cases out there will become happily resolved and that families won't have to be separated and destroyed. We can make a change if we all get together and fight for our beliefs and stand up for our rights. A man who stands alone is a lonely man, a man who stands with an army is a strong man. And that's what I believe. We can STOP deportation, if we try.
Stephanie
Bayonne, NJ

My name is Silvia and I am a US citizen. I married a immigrant who was on TPS status. He lived in the US for over 11 years. He was deported back to his country "EL Salvador" because of a domestic dispute he had in a relationship before he and I started dating. He never been in trouble before and I pray that he will get an opportunity to come back to the US. I visited El Salvador to see him in 2011. We now have a baby boy, Javier. Everything is court pending with my husband. I can say all the days and time my husband and I was together he never showed no-kind of abuse or violence toward me or my family. He was honestly with the wrong woman in his past who caused trouble in his life. One mistake by my husband/immigrant cause him to be deported back. He is not a bad person but did make the wrong decision by dating someone that was violent toward him but the courts say he is the bad person. So sad! I hope he will be back soon to raise his baby who is now 6 months old and to support his family. Dang, he is a good man and now his life is gone to the ground for now. Oh my, Life.
Silvia
Saint Paul, MN

I was born in Mexico towards the West side. My parents left me when I was 14 years old. They left to New Mexico. When I was 17, I left for New Mexico in order to see my parents. I found my parents living in a shelter home a few months after I arrived. Working in the shelter's shop, my family and I were able to raise enough money to move into a nearby community center. Currently my dad is illegally employed as a mechanic making $4.50 and hour and my mom works in the nearby laundromat. I work as an apprentice carpenter with no paperwork and no insurance. Recently a friend of mine was hurt while laying down some drywall and has no source of income. Both families are living off of less than $200 a month and are always combating poverty. Every day we live in fear of being deported, there is nothing left in Mexico for us.
Carlos
Albuquerque, New Mexico

I meet my husband 11 years ago and we have been married for 7. He came to the country with legal working papers but he did not return when he was supposed to. He got caught at the border with Canada but they let him go with a citation to immigration court. We fought the case for about 2 years and now he has been in Colombia for 6 years. He has no criminal record but they still will not let him come back.
Diana
New Jersey

Me and my husband have been married for a year now. He is 21 years old and attended 12 years of school here in Hawaii. He was brought here when he was 3 years old by his uncle from Tonga. No one knows how he came in to the U.S but his uncle that brought him here. But the bad thing about this is his uncle passed over not too long after bringing him here. So he is basically screwed! We have a 2 month old son who needs his dad more than anything. We both need him. I've been researching for many months now about how to make him a US citizen while he is here in the US but reading a lot of facts makes me kind of worried and scared. Its a risky situation that I want to take just to make him citizen but at the same time I do not want to lose him to getting deported back to TOnga.
Tina-Marie
Lahaina, Hi

I am a US citizen married to an illegal immigrant. My husband came when he was 17 years old. We met when he was 20 yrs and we married a year later. We have now been married for 7 years in june of this year.He has learned our language gone to our schools and is trying to adapt to our ways. He is a good person that came looking for that American dream a dream that most of us Americans don't take advantage of. If it wasn't for those immigrants that risk their lives crossing the desert "who would work our fields and pick our fruits?" Not the Americans... We have all these people wanting to change laws for the better but the only thing that they are doing is breaking up families and leaving less people to work their fields. Jobs that most Americans won't take. It's sad that the people we trust to govern our country feel the need to remove immigrants, that obviously came here looking for work to better their selves and families. Being illegal doesn't make you a criminal.
Natalie
Grand Rapids, Michigan

I moved to the US when I was 15 years old with my parents and my two brothers. We were all young and it was not our decision to come here. We were very lucky to come here with a Visa. After graduating from High School I realize it wasn't going to be easy to go to college because I didn't have a green card, and also because I had a baby girl when I was 18 years old. But my parents pushed me hard and paid out of pocket for my school. Since school is expensive and I couldn't apply for a loan it took me forever to finish school. I met my husband about 6 years ago and he helped me out to get my green card. I am now the first one in the family to become a Us citizen and I'm helping my parents out to get their green card too. I wish I could do more for my brothers because they are not legal yet. Specially my 16 year old brother who is an honor student and wants to become an engineer. He has so much potential and it will be sad if he has to delay his education because of his Immigration status. I am now 27 and I have two beautiful kids and still going to college. It is very hard to raise a family, work and go to school at the same time, but i think that at the end it will all be worth it.
Tatiana
Long Branch, New Jersey

I was brought here at the age of six. My family was dispersed at the time. I hated the thought of leaving my mom and grandmother alone but being promised to be closer to my father drew my attention. Now we're all together except for my grandmother that I miss every day. I am a 3.2 gpa student, very high in rank of my class but I don't feel in place. Every one that thinks they know about "illegal" immigrants thinks that our existence is a crime. But I see a window of opportunity here.
Daniel
Napoleon, Ohio

My husband came to the United States when he was 3 illegally and started high school but he discontinued because he was told that because he's an immigrant he wouldn't even have a chance to go to college. We got married 2 years ago and started his immigrant paper work last year. They told us he needed to go back to Mexico in order for him to fix properly and get all of this done. This was the hardest decision we have ever had to make because we knew we would have to be separated. He went to Mexico barely knowing any Spanish and had to start over by himself. We finally got the appt in Juarez and boom they deny him just like that. Then they told us to wait for their decision. After 6 more months they finally make a decision to deny him and the reason? He's "affiliated with a criminal organization." What? We're thinking its because he has tattoos but he's never been in a gang related and he has no criminal record at all. This is the worst thing we've ever had to go through. And were expecting a baby boy in June. Were so stuck. We want to do this right but it's almost impossible.
Ruby
Phoenix, Arizona

My Name Is Olga And I'm 18 years young. My parents brought me to the United States in the fourth grade. I was around 10. Then when I was around 12, my parents took me back to Mexico, then we all came back when I was like 13. My life Has been hard, moving back and forth from Mexico to the United States, leaving friends, family, and memories behind every time my parents decided to move. Never feeling accepted, always feeling foreign, feeling like I never fit in anywhere. Then when I was 15 I got pregnant from my boyfriend after being in a relationship for one year. I became a teenage mother when I was 16. Ever since I've been taking care of my daughter with the man of my dreams. Now my daughter is a year and half and I graduated high school last year. Now I just stay home and take care of my daughter while my boyfriend works. He can't afford to pay for me to go to college and I can't work because I don't have a social. We live with my parents and sometimes I get really depressed because I feel like I'm stuck at a place where I can't do nothing with my life but sit and watch everybody else going to school, getting a job, getting a drivers license. Me and my boyfriend are getting married in a month and I would really love to get my papers one day but I don't want to get deported in the process because i have a daughter that needs me.
Olga
Fresno, California

I've been living here in the USA since I was 16 years old. I am now 26 and I have found a wonderful lady whom I love and I want to marry her and give her a good future. I recently told her I was here illegally and she is scared and we had a big fight because of it. She loves me and she wants to stay with me, but we want to have a future together and I cannot give it to her. I wish I knew how to fix this. It breaks my heart that I most likely have to leave her so that she can have a good happy future with someone who can give it to her.
Manuel
Richmond KY

I was brought as a child from Mexico and I only know it from pictures and video. Never have I set a foot in Mexico since I was brought illegally. It wasn't my decision, I was just a baby. My dad has been breaking his back all his life for my family. Sometimes he tells us of how hard it was to survive due to being an immigrant. He picked fruit, worked in a ranch and construction. I'm very lucky to have him as my dad. Even though we are immigrants and life is harder we have to open doors for ourselves not close them. Everything is NOT impossible. I'm turning 20 and going back to college this fall with the help of GOD.
Melissa
Houston Texas

I was brought here when I was 2 by a coyote illegally and raised in Houston and Oklahoma City. When I was growing up I didn't feel "illegal". Hell I still don't consider myself anything but American. I am now 27 years old. I was deported 3 years ago to Honduras, and let me tell you it wasn't a walk in the park. hey deported me on a plane-ride that took about 6 hours. I struggled for a year while my mom and friends got some money together so I could come back the only way I could, "illegally". I had to cross Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States all illegality, trying to catch the "train of death", but that is another story that would take too long to write about. Now I am back and I see things in a different way. I am all about making a future for myself and my family. So what I want you to get from my story is don't wait to get deported to open your eyes. You need to make something for yourself however you can.
Martinez
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

I was born in Dallas, Texas - have graduated high school and currently enrolled in college. My husband came into to this country at a mere 10 years of age with his mother. Both anxious to find a window of opportunity - escaping a cycle of abuse and poverty. In 2001 they arrived in Dallas TX, where my husband has graduated from the same high school as I did, and continued on to earn his Pastry Chef certificate. Now he is 22 years old, married and with a 7 month old daughter. We have been married for a year now, and until recently have been able to save up to begin the process of his legal status in the US. A week ago we went to a consultation with an case worker - where she informed us to wait on a status of a bill. This bill (not sure the name) is supposed to help in a sense that when he returns to his "home" country - he does not have to stay and wait for the approval.
Gabriela
Dallas, TX

My husband left Sunday morning to go back to El Salvador to go and finish his paper work for Immigration. He was going by bus through Mexico then take another bus to El Salvador. He got detained at the border going into Mexico. I have called all of the immigration detention centers in Laredo Texas and I have was put on hold and no one ever came back to help me. We live in Virginia so it's hard for me to go and ask about his case. I am trying to find out if a hearing has been set for him and no one has answered me. I am an American citizen and we are legally married.
Maribel
Alexandria, Virginia

I came to United States in 2010 because my cousin was killed by an American citizen. I was granted a B2 visa. After a year, I was out of status. Then I got a job working at a gas station. I have been working for 3 months, and recently, someone came and beat me up endlessly. I called 911 and they asked me if I want to press charges or not. I told them I don't know yet. I am afraid to tell them yes because am an illegal immigrant, and they might deport me.
Olayiwola
Missouri

My wife from Colombia is in a final deportation order since 2004 when she was only 19, all because her dad filed an asylum that was denied. We are a married couple since 2005 and have 2 girls. My wife does not have any type of criminal record. She has a job as a Store manager. Her father and mother now are US citizens unable to help in the mess they put their kids into. As a US Citizen I cannot believe that I can't help my own family to stay together in my own country.
Scott
Miami, Florida

In 1997 I met a handsome man from Mexico City, He was in the country illegally and asked me to marry him. Then came the endless paperwork to get him his green card. That took 3 years. Then he got the idea to buy a home in Tijuana since he could now cross the border legally. He has paid cash for this house and bought 2 more lots of land and sunk all his money into this halfway finished home. I realize now that he had planned this from the first time he laid eyes on me. I am sick but can't get money for a Dr. I will be not be alive much longer. I am stuck here 18 hours a day all alone and get yelled at or hit when he comes home. My advice to any beautiful American girl is if a handsome Mexican walks up to you to try to become friendly in any way, RUN AWAY IMMEDIATELY! I can't even afford to get to the border or to divorce him. My life is doomed because I was stupid enough to show empathy for a Mexican man.
Lorrie
Tijuana Mexico

My parents brought me here when I was 4 years old. I'm 17 years old right now and I'm about to graduate. I will be the first one out of my family to graduate from high school. I really do want to go to a college. But the bad thing is since I'm a immigrant I can't get financial aid and that means that I'm gonna have to work to be able to afford it. Also my parents think that I can't really go to college since I'm a immigrant. They want me to just go to work and forget about college. I've been here most of my life this is the only place that I can call home. I am used to living in the U.S.A. I think if I would go to Mexico it would be weird and hard getting used to it. I wish that I could have been born here but I'm not.
Yesenia
Illinois

I met my husband 6 years ago and married 4 years ago. I have a step daughter in Salcaja, Totonicapan Guatemala. M y mother in law and my 4 sisters in laws are there also. My oldest brother in law just went back....glory to God he is in the process of getting legalized but they sent him back as a part of the process. We are learning each day that there is a lot of crime going on in their town. Just this last month an elderly man was tortured and murdered, and 2 weeks ago another elderly couple was also tortured horribly and then murdered. They were not victims of robbery just pure evil. My brother in law Mario is horrified. We had to send him money several times to help him and our family buy 2 guns and ammunition to defend themselves. We don't know when he will be able to come back but also what will my mom and sister in laws do after. My dad and 4 brothers in law are here with my husband without papers. We are doing everything we can to help them in Guatemala. No one person here in the US could possibly understand what the Hispanic community goes through on a daily basis. As an American I am asking you to read this tiny glimpse into the heart breaking suffering world of our neighbors who are looking for a safe place and help from us. Open your eyes and your hearts to help the people who are truly in need of help and prayer. I understand and see because I live and share the responsibility, sadness, frustration, fear, anger, tears, everything. Please help those in need, at the least try to understand them. We are blessed in abundance, we have a responsibility to share that. The next time you see a Hispanic walking or driving or in the store instead of judging them imagine what they could be suffering through, their worries, their hardships. God bless not only the US but the entire world.
Kelly
Rutherfordton, NC

I am currently in high school in the tenth grade. I came to the U.S. from Mexico illegally when I was 3. I don't remember anything about Mexico. I have lived most of my life here. I am a very good student. I always get very good grades. I have never gotten into any kind of trouble. My family is proud of me. I sometimes get sad ,if not mad of how the kids around me waste their education. They skip, disrespect the teachers, they don't pay attention or let others pay attention, they just don't care! It annoys me because they have so many opportunities to prosper and get prepared for college when others, like me, have to struggle to even get into a good college.
Ana
Rockford, IL

I am eighteen years of age. I was five years old when I moved to the United States from my hometown in Mexico. Now, I am applying to college and have a GPA of 3.5. I just want to say that there are those who are fortunate enough to live a happy and free life, but happiness can sometimes come with sacrifices. It is unfair, everyone out there deserves a chance for a better life...everyone.
Isabelle
Glendale, Arizona

I'm 19 and I was brought to the US when I was 7 years old, I was born in Costa Rica. I left the US recently, about 5 months ago, because I couldn't get into a big college since they asked for social security and stuff like that and I also left because I didn't see much opportunity since there's a whole lot of laws against illegal immigrants. Now I'm suffering here because college here is too different and I have no other way back.
David
Carrollton, TX

I am a US citizen. My husband is from Mexico. We have been married for almost 14 years . He was arrested for unpaid traffic tickets. We paid the tickets and he was being released until immigration went to the jail and took him to the immigration jail . I got a lawyer and they helped us start the process to fix his papers but when he went to court he was given voluntary deportation and all this was for traffic tickets. He is not a criminal.
Viki
Houston TX

My son got in trouble with the law for defending himself when someone bothered him and the aggressor got away with it as they are financially better off. My son is American born and raised but was held in jail as they insisted that he was wanted by immigration to be deported. He is of Indian European descent but second generation American. He was interrogated continuously and treated like garbage. The only ID he has is a drivers license as we are in the process of moving and misplaced his documents. I had to convince them to allow me to give them my documents to be able to free my son. Btw the person they were looking for was older and from Guatemala. Not even close. If an American can be treated with such disrespect then I can clearly see how they treat those from other countries. America is a bully and treats immigrants like garbage. I am truly sorry for the way immigrants are treated here. Immigrants take any job because they are hard working and want a better life. It's Americans that need to take example and stop whining. I can't feel help but feel embarrassed of being an American.
Lilly
Queens, NY

I never knew my father came from Mexico. He got my birthmother pregnant and then left and I never knew him or seen a picture. My Birthmother gave me out for adoption when I was born. I am still trying to find them but its hard and I need references on how to do that because my birthfather was an illegal immigrant.
Rose
Pocatello, ID

Growing up I didn't understand what being from Mexico was all about. I didn't think we were different from anyone else. Yeah we spoke Spanish at home, but at school it was all English. I didnt know I was illegal until I was 16 years old. I thought I had been born here. My mother only told me because I was graduating High School a year early and I was going to apply for college. It hurt me to know all my hard work was for nothing. I cannot get a license, ssn. Basically I can't get nothing. I got caught driving without a license about 5 months ago. They took me to jail for three days. I thought they was going to deport me. But no instead I have a year to go back to Mexico. Which I know nothing about..... I don't have anymore family down there. Everyone is here illegally. I don't know what I'm going to do. All my life all I've known is here. Please continue to fight for us illegal immigrants. Everyone deserves a chance right?
Lorena
Fresno, California

My dad is an illegal and it's really hard. He has been here more than 20 years and I really think that if you been here for a while you should get an opportunity to get your green cards and papers. I'm 17 and me and my family hide my father when they come. We are all so scared that one day he won't come back.
Jesenia
Brownwood, Texas

I am as some would say the typical immigrant. I was brought into this country at age 3 and now am about to turn 19. I've known no other place than my home in Houston. Even though I have graduated top 10 percent in my high school, it's still difficult to go to community college due to financial aid stupidity, lack of transportation, and parents whose paychecks hardly cover the rent and other expenses. And not to mention how hard it is to find a job... I just wish I could help my parents in some way somehow financially. I still look forward to a better future but I can have some comfort knowing my little sister who was born here isn't going to go through these hardships I am going through right now.
Erick Perez
Houston, Texas

I have a sister whose lives in the Dominican Republic. She wasn't supposed to be born there. Because of my mother's ignorance she went out there at 8 months pregnant. Later she came back to the US with out claiming her. My sister is now 26 and my mother passed away 10 yrs ago of AIDS. Now am trying to make things right by trying to prove that my mom is a citizen so my sister can come home because she doesn't have no family there.
Isabel
Buffalo, NY

I am a citizen here in the United States. I am part Mexican. I just hate how people treat Mexicans like if they were some criminals, or did something bad. Mexicans come here to have a better life, support themselves, and their family. Some of them get deported for no reason, and when they have their family and kids they have to separate them. Wouldn't you feel bad, sad, mad if they took the people you love away from you? They come for a better opportunity and then if both parents are illegal and get deported the children get sent to foster care.
Leslie
Minnesota

My name is Emily Campbell and I'm married to an illegal Mexican. We have been together 4 years and married 3 years. I have two wonderful cute sons and I'm very happy to have such a wonderful family. I know a lot of people do not like the fact that illegal Mexicans come to the USA, but I wish those people could understand that some of this immigrants have no other choice but to come here.
Emily
Kent, WA

My husband was only 17 years old when he left his family to come here and find work so he could help his family. I complained about making min wage at taco bell and here he was working for 4 to 5 dollars an hour in the hot sun picking fruit. At one point he worked three jobs to just be able to pay his rent. I tell you all when I met this special man that gave me my beautiful angels my life changed. I now realize I don't have it as bad as A LOT of others around the world. I wish that those who hate Mexican immigrants could just open their eyes and see that some of these people are just trying support their family and if you'd open your eyes wider you could see that if they have to leave everything they know and love just to come here. I'm not trying to say that its right for all these people to come where illegally but I'm trying to say that we should not make it so impossible for those that are here to work and pay taxes like everyone else to get their papers.
No name given
Federal Way, WA

Life as a immigrant involuntarily has put a complete stop in my life. Brought to the U.S from Mexico by my parents after only 3months from turning 3 years old, we came to live a better life. Sadly nothing came out the way my parents had planned. They divorced only 1-2 years after getting here leaving me and my mom alone moving from place to place because it was so hard for my mom to find a job since she was only 22 at the time and with no english. She re-married a few years later with my step dad and has 3more kids (all citizens). Me and my step dad have NEVER had the best relationship knowing that I'm not his child. I've been degraded, humiliated and just put down to an extend that my life has been a living hell. I went to school my whole life here, I didn't have the best grades but I didn't have bad ones either. I never flunked, don't have any kind of criminal record at all. I don't know what to do anymore, I can't work, I can't go to school because it's too expensive, I literally can't do ANYTHING with my life. I'm stuck in a hell whole depending on my step dad all because I was brought to the US when I was a child to have a "better life". I would leave to Mexico, but I know of no one to go to over there and as bad as things are over there now (cartel wars) I would be living worse, maybe even dead....but then again if you can't do anything with your life and you have nowhere to go with no kind of help, what ARE you supposed to live for?.....I'm 20 going on 21 this year, and being an immigrant has ruined my life.....
Jonathan C.
Houston, TX

My husband, Hugo, came to the US when he was 19 years old. He came here to work, and earn a living. After awhile, he decided if he was going to live here, he should learn to speak English, so he did. He got a job and worked hard. When he was 30, he met me, a US Citizen. We hit it off immediately and I enjoyed learning about him, his family and his culture. However, he was very Americanized, as he had spent his entire adult life in the US. We got married in 2007, and not long after that, we were expecting our first child. Unfortunately, it was not in God's plans for us to have our baby girl and she passed away after being born at 23 months. Hugo is the only reason I survived such a traumatic experience. In 2009, we finally welcomed a healthy baby boy. During this time, we decided it would be best for Hugo to get his papers so we would never again have to fear that he would be removed from the country. Let me tell you this...if I knew then what I know now, I don't think I would have EVER let Hugo apply for immigration. I would have waited it out. Not only has he been away from my child and me for almost ten months, but we have no way of knowing WHEN he will be able to come home. All of this, and he left VOLUNTARILY. He wasn't behaving like a criminal and picked up and deported. We chose to do this...and it feels like the US Consulate is sure taking their sweet time to process our papers. Is our system really so broken that we can't even have the luxury of a website that provides a timeline, or a queue where we can view when our loved ones case will be decided on? In the meantime, my child and I are suffering financially and emotionally. We are alone here, trying to fend for ourselves, while my husband sits helpless in a country he has never even known as an adult. We have no one to contact for help and we are constantly told, the documents will be reviewed in the order received. I guess my point to this rant is this...wait, don't apply until you know for sure your loved one doesn't have to leave the country for the waiver process.
Heather
Carson City NV

I came to United States when I was 6 years old. now I'm 20 & pregnant but my boyfriend is an American citizen..after I graduated from high school I didn't really realize that I couldn't do much with my life because I'm an illegal. I sometimes fall into depression. I try not to but it's hard not feeling hopeless. I can only pray that some kind of hope
Carolina
Tampa, FL

My younger brother and I were brought to the United States before the fall of 1995. We went to school and graduated from high school and we have both attended our local community college. Our mother started building a family before she brought us over. Our sister is going to turn 21 in about four years which means she will be at the age when she can petition for our mother, my brother and I. Unfortunately, after doing lots of research, I found out that the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 will make it impossible for us to change our status within the US because we have been living in the US for about 17 years unlawfully. This means that if I want to get my status fixed, I will have to travel back to Mexico to finalize the process. Unfortunately, the immigration law of 1996 imposes a harsh 10-year bar against those who have been in the country unlawfully for over a year. From my understanding, once I'm in Mexico and I try to finish the immigration process, I'm certain that US Immigration Officials will do a background check and find out that I have been living in the United States for many years and will prevent me from apply or entering the US for at least 10 years. To make it worse, even though my brother and I were brought into the United States unwillingly when we were minors, it does not change a thing so we are stuck been illegal unless we go back to Mexico or an immigration reform is passed (which I doubt will happen any time soon) that will get rid of the harsh 3 to 10-year ban.
Gustavo
California

I need to correct the misconception that having a social would make life easier. It doesn't!! I am 36 years old and came here legally through my parents then got stuck because of bureaucratic nonsense. I've been here since I was 7. It took a long time just for me to get an Associate Degree and I have no idea how long it will take me to finally get a Bachelors and on to a Masters. It's hard to move forward with your life when you don't have the funds and/or proper paperwork to live like a normal American. I have become somewhat isolated because I don't want to explain this to new people and the friends that I have don't understand why things have taken so long for me to have the life of my dreams. Don't get me wrong, my friends and family are amazing, but they're fortunately not in my shoes. They can't really relate to the pain I'm feeling and the struggles that has come my way. I believe in God and know he can do great things, but that has not prevented me from falling into depression. I've been waiting too long to start my life and I've been contemplating suicide because I don't know what else to do besides wait. I had a work permit years ago and when it was time for me to get a green card, it was denied because they said I aged out. These freakin' people moved my paperwork to the wrong place, which delayed progress for me and did not rectify the situation nor take responsibility for messing up. I should have already been a citizen because my parents did everything that was legally required. A few years ago, my father filed an I-130 for me so once again I'm waiting. It's basically starting over when what I need to become a citizen after being here since age 7.
No name given
Atlanta, Georgia

19 years, that's how long it's been since my move to the U.S. Like other parents, mine brought me here seeking for a brighter future. America has been my country and is the only country I can remember, playing basketball in the park, strolling the mall with friends or attending high school, these are the things America has given me. Though I'm not an American by law, I consider myself one. The hardest thing I've had to endure is watching my friends go to universities after college, drive cars and get jobs, while I'm stuck home watching my brother. It really gets to me emotionally; it feels like I'm trapped, even though this country has given me more freedom than imaginable. I hope and pray to all the girls and boys who are in the same situation as me. Stay strong and be thankful for what America has given to us.
Sherpa
Portland, Oregon

I am a Mexican descendant born U.S. citizen. My wife is a Mexican immigrant. We have two U.S. born citizen children. I'm in the process making it legal for her but I'm kind of afraid that if we process paperwork she will not be able to comeback for a long while. I have always encouraged my wife of being proud to be in the United States. I always tell both of my sons about the greatness of being American. I hate it when people wave a Mexican flag in our country. To me is like biting the hand of who feeds you. Or it's like betraying a mother that raised you when you were abandoned by your biological mom. But our representatives in congress are taking care that many of us lose faith and pride of our country.
Felipe Gonzalez
Laredo

I came to the US when I was 4 and I am 35 now and let me tell you my life is a nightmare. The older you get the tougher it gets especially since I left my mom when I was 14 cause of her drug habit. I moved around the country with no ID, birth certificate or anything that could identify me. My life was a mess. In 1993 I came to Houston and started odd jobs and finally found a place where I feel like I belong but my struggles aren't over. It's hard to find a job and when I tried to get my paperwork together. I got nowhere cause the people in the Bahamas asked me questions to which I had no answers. I don't know nothing but America but everyday could be my last day here and then what where will they send me since I seem to be nobody in the eyes of the government. I would go back to Bahamas and try to come back legally but they don't recognize me as a citizen either... so only time will tell...Good luck to all of you and let's hope someone will hear us and do something
Candice
Houston, Texas

I am a Hispanic female and I am 16 years old going on to 17 in less than 3 months. I am an immigrant; I came to America when I was 2 years old and I've been living here my whole life. I am a very dedicated student and I speak more English than I do Spanish. I cry myself to sleep knowing that I may not be able to finish school if the Dream Act doesn't get approved. Knowing I can't get my license, go visit other states, etc. just brings me down. Yes, I know that there are ways like marrying someone but I honestly don't want to wait for that. What if that time never comes? I want to become someone important in life not just a person that can get thrown out from this country. I'm desperate. I hate living like this.
S.C.P
California

My father was born in TX. My mom was born in Mexico. My grandmother legally brought her entire family to the USA during the Mexican revolution. I was born in TX in 1936. Whether you are an legal or illegal, you still find problems. I escaped poverty by serving in the military for 26+ years. Still, as an Hispanic, after retirement, and after 162 job interviews, I could not find a job. I finally got hired by the DOD. Today, I am well off. But, to get from then to now was not easy, especially going through 10 years in the military without a promotion and another 10 years with the DOD without a promotion. If you are legal or illegal, you will continue to find problems. A major problem we are facing in the future is when America will say NO MORE amnesty, deport ALL illegal immigrants. Believe me, it will happen.
Eugenio
San Antonio, TX

I came to the United States when I was only six years old from Uzbekistan.I came to a world where the slogan "money grows on trees" exists; where eating a banana everyday was breakfast not on a occasion. If you see me on the street, you'd probably say wow she's so lucky but if you knew the truth it's not you'd expect. I came to America with my parents and brother for a better future where your nationality and religion wasn't an issue. Just because I came from Uzbekistan doesn't make me that nationality, to be honest nothing that deals with that country makes me who I am today. My parents were abused for not being Muslim, my brother has scars on his face from kids picking on him for being Russian. My story starts where I was woken up at 6:07 a.m. of last year by ICE. My family has wasted over $70,000 for the past twelve years on lawyers who said they will legalize but never did. We were taken into custody and now I am 18 years old with no future, no job, and no money. I am depended on my parents who barely make it paying bills. Just because I wasn't born here doesn't mean I'm not an American. I was raised here & experienced my whole life here. Now that I am 18, I have nothing but to wait for someone who will hear me out and give me a chance to live my life, not being haunted by my parents nationality and religion.
No name given
Brooklyn

My parents brought me here from Europe when I was five and I thank them everyday for that. They have worked their butts off all my life and still do. I am about to leave high school and I don't know what to do. I keep thinking what will happen to me if I have to "go back". I don't have anything and all I known is America. I actually thought I was alone in this until tonight when I found this website. All I can do is hope now.
No name given
Chicago, Illinois

I immigrated to the United States 11 years ago when I was 4. Coming here was the best thing that has ever happened to me. My parents brought me here hoping that I would get a chance at a better life that they never had. And I do. I'm in school and always been a straight A student. I am in advanced classes and hopefully graduating early. I am so happy, happier that I could ever imagine. I thank God relentlessly for what he has given me and my family. But I am very afraid. I am only 15 and since I was young I always worried. I am afraid for my future because I cannot apply to the college of my dreams. I feel like an outsider because not one of my friends knows the situation I am in. I see many people bashing us and insulting us. It almost feels like they can rip my dreams apart from the seams. But I won't let them. I will hold on to my dreams no matter what. I will not give up, I will succeed and no one can stop me. One day I hope that the country I love will accept me and my people.
Liz
Illinois

I have no idea how old you have to be in order to write a story on this site. My story is one so common in America that I've cried at this realization. Right now I'm thirteen years old about to be fourteen, I'm in eighth grade have had a such good academic scores in my life that I cried once when I received a report card with a B. I was brought to the U.S. when I was 4 or less. I have lived in the United States of America for more than two thirds of my life. I don't know much of the country I was born in. I remember a very long journey at night, in a car, on the road. I had no idea what i was doing in there,or how it happened. All I knew was that i was immensely frightened, it was probably the scariest time of my life. Presently I am about to enter high school and that means that I have four years until I end up in the worst situation in my life. My parents know this as well. They've offered me the option to move back to Mexico and attempting to have an education there or staying here and finding a way to get a college education and become a citizen. At first I thought of moving as a way to escape all this hassle of illegal immigration and get a good education, but I soon realized this wasn't the case. I grew up in America, Ii still live in America, I speak English, I learned about American history, my favorite sports teams are here. I know I am not legally considered a citizen, but I sure as hell feel see and behave like one. Just thinking of leaving here is making me cry. I don't want to leave here, this is my home. I only have friends here. I only like sports here. I only like malls here. I only want to live here. I'm going to do all I can to live here. I initially had no idea what I was going to do but now, after writing this I know. I'm going to fight for the pursuit of happiness even if it will be the most selfish and riskiest things I do in my life. I pray to god that he helps me and all other people in my sort of situation. I hope he gives all people deserving a chance.
No name given
Sacramento California

I am a young mother pregnant at the age of 16 who knew my life would be so difficult because I fell in love with someone with no papers my son is 2yrs old and only knows his daddy is gone little does he know it may be for a long while my sons father has been gone for 6months now and it feels like a life time he went to mexico to do the right thing get his papers and support his family but he was told he would be punished for not going back to mexico after he turned 18 and was here for 1 year and 6 months who knew while he was walking across the stage getting his diploma it would be useless me and my son do not speak spanish at all so we have been puting off going to see him in mexico because I am afraid epecially with all the violence what am I supposed to do I feel like this has taken the life out of me I dont wish this on anyone! Something needs to change we families cant keep getting torn apart like this.
Leticia
Phoenix, Arizona

My Father was the best dad in the entire world. He did everything he could for me and my family and he was legal in the USA. His family moved from Portugal to Canada where his sister was born and then his whole family moved to Fall River, Massachusetts where they settled and lived. His mother was scared to make them as American citizens because the fear of them being drafted into war but his brother joined the Army and became one, his sister did everything to become one and did but my father got in trouble in highschool for drugs and foolish things teenagers do and was denied but he had a green card and a social security number. Throughout my life my dad did everything to support his family OKAY he smoked weed, and did some drugs does that make him a criminal does he deserve 10+ years away from his family? My dad never once touches me, hit me or my mother, he would take his life for us I can't explain how much he doesn't deserve this. In 2005 me and my dad got in a fight because I was mad he wouldn't let me go out like any teenager would be instead I was to immature and told me guidance counselor my dad was a bad dad and did drugs.The next morning deportation was at my door 6 am, knocked it down and took my dad away in his pajamas I haven't seen him since and regret that day with all my life. I know he is scared out there, he has no friends or family he doesn't even read the language. He deserves to be with his family he should have seen me graduate high school. He needs to see me graduate college, and walk me down the aisle. Our family is willing to do anything to help my dad get back to our family. He is such a hard worker, loving man and was wrongfully deported.
Chelsea
Kernersville, NC

I was conceived in America but my mom being young and ignorant left my father to go to Mexico being 9 months pregnant. She than realized she made a mistake and somehow crossed me over at age 3 weeks and I've been here ever since. I have always done well in school. Excelled in sports and even have kept a good moral code. I'm 26 years old and still been waiting to be a resident. It's a hard road and truly it hurts when you see so many ungrateful American citizens having everything for them, take life for granted. Will I ever drive, live, freely? I hope there will be a day.
J.R.
Houston

My story is like any other one here, but when I came to the US there were not too many people migrating. Now the situation is diferent. We are too many and have brought our young children and they are paying the price. People think that by coming here you will do everything you want even though you don't have papers, but in reality things are very hard. We have to realize this is not our country and they have the right to have their own laws and we are not complying with them. After a while of being here we forget who we are and act like a regular american citizens until we are caught. Never forget who you are or where you are coming from.
Julie
Washington

I came to the US at age 9 in search of my mother who left Honduras following the worst hurricane in 200 years, Hurricane Mitch. In spite of lost family members, a rural mountain education in a one-room school,I am now a high school junior with a 4.0 GPA and a member of National Honor Society. I believe in America...please believe in me!
Candelario
Cornelia, Georgia

I have been married to an illegal immigrant for over ten years. If I could reverse my decision I would have. It has been so tough and my heart goes out to all the families like mine. It costs so much in legal fees and it has been difficult to do anything. Rent a place, everything has to be in my name and I'm a stay at home Mom. Now my marriage is failing because he is abusive and we have kids together. I don't know if I can get child support from him at all. It is a dreadful situation. I still support immigrants but mine needs to go back to where he came from.
Wendy
Louisville, KY

I crossed the Mexican-American border without a problem in 1996, asleep in the back seat. I was 4 at the time, now I'm about to turn 20. While in high school, I was one of the top 10 students in the whole high school, everyone said I should've applied to Dartmouth or another Ivy League...little did they know that I couldn't. After high school, I fell into a deep depression. The sole cause of my crestfallen attitude is all of the missed opportunities. I have a lot of great potential as an illegal I'm stuck in a rut. I know that I can apply for that $50k scholarship and most likely get it, but I am missing the 9 digits that make me qualify. However, to anyone reading this, PLEASE DON'T GET DISCOURAGED!! There are private scholarships that help out students without asking for SS#. My own sister was a recipient of such a scholarship and is now attending a prestigious school in NYC. We are brilliant, law-abiding, and responsible young women, who solely want two things in life: to get the best education possible and live a comfortable life. One aspect of my life that causes me a great amount of anger is seeing the American Citizens around me waste all of the wonderful opportunities they have; specifically the opportunity to study and travel. My cousins have the time and ability to further their education, but instead decide to stay home, do bad in school, become low-class hoodlums and live in ignorance. My aunt filed for an I-130 for my mother about 6 years ago, we still have about 5 more years to wait for this to finish processing and for our visa interviews in Colombia to be issued. People, we need to educate others that not all illegal immigrants are these gangsters, rapists, thieves, criminals, looking to steal jobs, but they are simple HUMAN BEINGS looking for a better life. We are looking to overcome the challenges brought to us in the second and third-world countries.
Angel
New Jersey

It has been almost 40 years since I immigrated to America. I was born in Wales, GB, then raised in Lancashire England until I was 10 at which time my family immigrated to Canada. I grew up and was educated in Ontario, Canada. After finishing school I applied to immigrate to America.
I then spent the next 4 years visiting the American consulate in Detroit supplying documentation and waiting until I received my visa to enter the USA as a permanent resident alien. From the moment I arrived, I faithfully carried the green card the government had issued me, waiting for someone to show it to. The law states that all immigrants are to carry their green card with them at all times. I had arrived in the middle of the Vietnam War but had done the math before immigrating and I was drafted 5F.bI was one month too old to be drafted to Vietnam. Over the next 20 years living in Florida I had started a business, creating several jobs for Americans, raised three Americans of my own and found I was still waiting for someone to ask to see my green card. But alas I don't fit the profile of a legal or illegal immigrant everyone who passes me on the street assumes I was born here and that I am an American. That is the good news. The bad news is, since birth certificates, voter registration cards and other similar documents are readily available on the black market today. I can't find an American born friend who has legal documentation to prove he or she is an American. if they don't have a passport. I guess Homeland security will have to one day take Biometrics of every American just to prove you're an American. Yes times have changed.
Royce Emley
Jupiter, Florida

I was brought into the USA at age 3 and abandoned with my grandparents. Since then they have taken care of me. I have been given a few scholarships but I have no social security. My grandparents got custody of me and put in a petition for me and it's been a year and I haven't received any news. My American Dream is to continue school and become an Architect but as of now my dream is killed.
Genaro Serrato
No location given

I am 21 years old & was brought to this country as a baby. Both my parents are illegal. I am scared to try and file for paper work for the reason to be deported or denied. I can't find a job or go to college like everyone else. As soon as I graduated high school I realized I couldn't go to college. I always dreamed of being a nurse. My grandpa & my dad were deported in 02 & 06. I haven't seen them ever since. I have 5 siblings all born here. They say when they get older the could fix my immigration papers. But I heard it takes years & a lot of money which I don't have. I say why does the world have borders. God made this for all of us. I hope everyone gets what they dream for. My dream is to one day be able to get hired at a job go to college & go visit my grampa & dad & being able to come back.
Luz
Anaheim CA

I was 9 yrs old when my mom and dad and my 2 brothers moved to the U.S. I graduated high school in 2010 not thinking that not having a green card really mattered. But then I tried applying for grants and jobs and was denied because of me not having a social security number. All I always wished for was to have a degree in drafting and design and if I had a green card I know I would of made it.
Adam Aguirre
Dallas TX

My name is Samuel. I was brought here when I was just 6 months. I honestly think I'm more of an American than a Mexican. My dad is trying so hard to get me legal. I've done good in all my academics. I've been a straight A student since kindergarten. Now, this may shock you but I am just 13 years old. I'm worried about my future.
Sam
Charlotte, North Carolina

My husband is an illegal alien from Mexico. We have been together for three years and have two young boys, I also have an older son from a previous relationship who doesn't know his biological father. We are talking about filing for his papers, but I am scared of what will happen. I love my husband very much and my children and I need him here with us. After reading these stories it makes me wonder what our government is thinking. They give drug dealers, gang members, and rapists or murders a second chance to have a good life on a daily basis, but will not give hard working families even one chance to be together without the fear of being separated permantely. Te amo fercho eres El a or de mi vida
Paige
West Memphis, Arkansas

This is the story of my husband. He came from Honduras with his mother and brother at the age of 8, in 1989, legally. He went to American schools, and was encouraged by his mother to be a "real" American so they were not allowed to speak Spanish anymore. He became a permanent resident. He only returned to Honduras one time at the age of 16 for 1 week and did not have any real contact after that with any of his extended family in Honduras. As he progressed in age he received a conviction of felony hit and run, it was a mutual accident but the other guy became violent he left the scene of the accident to contact the police from a gas station that happened to be in another county. This qualifies as a hit and run. He received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder later on. We have been together for 7 years, married 4 years. I was informed to call the police if he ever becomes a danger to himself because he stops taking his medication suddenly. We had an incident, I called the police to take him to the closest mental hospital. They ended taking him to jail for disturbing the peace. I go to bail him out, and I am informed ICE has a detainer on him. Long story short, they deported him, and I have been without my husband for 6 months. I am an American citizen as well as my 8 and 5 year old daughter. They miss their daddy horribly. He was a wonderful father who did so much for them. He walked her to and from the bus stop every day. Took them swimming in the community pool every day. When the courts deported him "home" they destroyed our real home. Home is not where you were born, home is where you built your life and where you keep your heart. I still have my days where I cry my eyes out. My children still ask when is he coming home, even though I have told them probably never. I will never take my wedding ring off or divorce him. He is my true love. And he was taken away because he was mentally ill and I called for help.
Allison
Fredericksburg, VA

In 2004 my mom, siblings and me came to join my father after 7 long years of not seeing him. I had just turned 10 years old. The process of getting to the US was the most frightening experience I ever had, constantly having to watch your surroundings so men don't take advantage. After 3 years my parents divorced and my mom was left to care for me and my siblings in a different country with little knowledge of it. Every day my mom struggles to make end meet, but she has always been strong and had her faith in the Lord. Now 18 years old I find myself 9 months pregnant with a baby boy, unprepared and expecting the baby any minute. I grew to love this country but I am terrified and filled with fear that I get deported to Mexico after my son is born. I can't work a minimum wage job to take care of my son, or go to college to get an education to offer my child a better future. I am completely stuck, I feel like all can do is to remain quiet and hidden and pray that something changes in the heart of the government. Truly those with who have social security do not know what they have in their hands.
Tania
Pennsylvania

My family came here in 89'. Been here over 20 years but no way we can apply....but we are entrepreneurs and have opened 3 companies, have over 20 employees, over 30,000 in payroll taxes, pay state and federal taxes, we make over half a million a year of which we pay taxes on, contribute to our local community thru charity's, have our own cars, and own our own home and are respected members of our community. We plan on expanding our business, and you know what's funny? we are here illegally, but what we figured out is that if you start a corporation here, they corporation is a US citizen so they work for us and we put everything in the company name and that's how we get around. Truth is it would just be nice to visit our home country, see our family members, our aunts, uncles, cousins, mothers, and fathers, and even though we have the money to travel.......we can't.
Anonymous
NY, NY

I was born in Mexico but raised in America. My childhood memories are here in this country I love so much. My mother was only 16 when she conceived me in America. She had gone back to Mexico not knowing she was pregnant but eventually came back illegally hoping that her unborn child would have a better chance in this cruel world. I'm 16 now trying to become a citizen of a country I love so much but yet can't accept me. I was lucky to get my green card but I know many who haven't been as blessed. I hope that one day I will not only make my parents proud but my people as well. I hope that one day I won't be just a wetback but someone trying to survive in this world. I hope to one day end the prejudice.
Angelica
Pasadena, CA

I'm one of many with the same situation. I was brought illegally to the U.S. approximately when I was 2 yrs old. Was NOT my choice but many people fail to comprehend that. Not sure exactly when it was that I came to the realization that I was here illegally...maybe it was when kids started making fun of me and calling me names. My dreams of attending college where shattered. The color of skin shouldn't be what gives one more "value" than the other. Why do we discriminate against our own flesh?..Isn't the same God that brought you forth the same God that brought me forth on the day we were born? If God has you in a place or needs you in a place he'll keep you there or take you there. So if you are reading this right now and find yourself where i once was..wondering and trying to put the pieces together hope this helps. You are not where you are by mistake, don't believe all the lies that you hear. We humans feel we need to accomplish many things to feel worthy of ourselves. If your dreams and expectation didn't happened as planned REMEMBER this...It's because God has a BETTER plan!
Weslaco,Tx

I was brought in to the U.S. as a baby, as the legal child of a US citizen because my birth certificate was filled out that way. However when my mother crossed the border she was questioned by immigration because she was 50 and had a 7 week old child. She finally told them that I was not her biological child. The questioning ended there and I was permitted in to the U.S. with my mother. She never adopted me legally because of fear and innocent ignorance and also because I never had an Issue getting a Job. I have worked all my life I now have 4 children that I have supported as a single mother mostly. I was married to a U.S. citizen in 1995 and divorced due to domestic violence. However was never able to prove the domestic Violence because it was never reported. I am now 34 years old and 3 years ago I lost my job and have not been able to get another job this causing me to go to the state for assistance to be able to support my children. I feel horrible because I would not be on state assistance If I could support my children however I am breaking the law just by beeing in th U.S. This is my home the only home I have.
Nivia
Arizona

I am US citizen married to a Guatemalan for going on two years. We have two daughters, the oldest has neurofibromatosis Type 1. We applied for his permanent residency in 2011, We received a RFE because USCIS wants him to have a sponsor. The deadline is Feburary 25 2012. No one is willing to sponsor him, that is eligible, because they are not comfortable with the terms of the sponsorship agreement. My husband will be put in removal proceedings and soon after deported February 25. We are going to move with him. It is our only option, we have no family or friends here and I can not find a job. My husband is our everything, I love him more than words express, but the sad thing is my little girl will not be able to get the medical care she needs in Guatemala. This situation is not fair to anyone. My husband is a good man that came here legally but his visa expired and this is what happens to my family for trying to do things the legal way.
Kandy
Georgia

I came here to the United States when I was just 7 years old in 2001. I came through legally, however I stayed for more than my visiting permit allowed. Me and my brother who is two years younger than me were born on Mexico along with my parents. We came because we want to keep our family together and to get a better education. My parents are hard working people who pay their taxes and don't cause trouble. My sister was born a year after we moved here. All three of us have excelled in school and sports. I'm half way through my junior year getting ready for SAT's and college applications. I'm in the top of my class, top 3%. I don't get in trouble and I contribute to the community. I'm scared for what lies ahead, being an illegal immigrant and still trying to be normal. People don't see the extra work I have to do in order to get into college. I can't work, I can't drive, and I can't help fund for my education. Once I graduate from college what do I do with my degree? How do I become a functioning member in society if I'm restrained?
Yesi
Porter, Texas

My brother and I, came to US in 2000. He was 7 years old and I was 8. We came with a visa, but unfortunately it expired. Life as I'm growing up is getting even more complicated. I'm unable to work, and finish school. I'm really looking forward to the future when my life is together and everything will be better for us.
Kelly
Silver Spring, MD

My dad brought my sister and I from the Dominican Republic with illegal papers when I was 9 years old. We went to school and I already graduated from high school with honors. I'm about to turn 18 years old and I don't know what to do with my life. My dream is to become a doctor but because of my status I can't. Should I go back to my country? Should I stay? Should I follow my dreams? Should I wait for the U.S. government to pass a law in favor of immigrants? It gets me mad that most of U.S. citizens have the opportunity to go to college and have a better life but they don't want to take advantage of it. I would give anything I had to be able to go to college. This really makes me sad. We pay taxes, we all should have the same rights.
Jazmin
Clifton, New Jersey

I came here with my family when I was 13. I'm from the Philippines. I loved America and what this country has to offer me - the ability to be independent. I also observed what Americans take for granted. I don't understand why some Americans hate this country and has no respect for its opportunities. Don't they realize how lucky they are? I guess you have to be an immigrant to realize that. For those immigrants who are struggling, please have faith. You made it this far. We are all immigrants at one point, even the Americans. This is a great melting pot, if we all learn to work our differences rather than making excuses.
Marissa
Ohio

I was with my kids father since 2001 and we have 2 children together. He went to work in California to make a better life for us and we turned in all the correct papers. He went to his court date and from court they gave him a paper saying his papers has been accepted but yet he was on his way back here to Louisiana ICE pulled him off the bus and arrested him and said that was not a legal document. So they deported him back to Mexico and now we are fighting for his papers. A lawyer in New Orleans said we have a good case because it is a legal document that was signed by the immigration courts. His rights to be here are legal and I have been writing to the congress to help me but no word yet. It’s been almost a year. I have a special needs child and another child that is dealing with separation anxiety and my oldest went to Mexico to vist his father and know I may have troubles bringing my son back across the border. He is an American citizen and I just want my kids father back and my son back as well. I miss them a lot. Te amo mucho mi amor. Aqui estoy esperando a ti con toda corazon.
Gabriela
Luisiana

 

I’m 28 years old living in NY as an immigrant. I want to go to automotive school so bad but cant. I came to this country when i was 18. I could have been  a high ranking officer in my country if I had stayed. I didn't know it was gonna be like this. Worst than a dog. No job currently unemployed. This is not the American dream. Even a great man like Abraham Lincoln knew this. That is why he freed the slaves. But yet it feels like living in slavery.  
Harry
Brooklyn, NY

 

This is the story of my fiance Maria. She has been in the States since 1991. She is from the Philippines. This Immigration problem is still going on. She is a victim of the Motor Voter law. She went to the DMV in 2003 to get a State ID and she showed her Permanent Resident card as a form of ID. She proceeded to get her State ID and then was asked if she would like to register to vote. She did not know that she couldn't vote, so she registered and voted one time in 2004. The form she signed was already completed. The questions on it that ask if you are a citizen do not have boxes to check Yes or No. The DMV employee just pushed it in front of her and said sign. By the way this form was changed in 2004 because of this problem. In 2007 she applied for citizenship and told the truth that she voted. Her citizenship was denied in 2008 and she was put in removal proceedings for voting one time. She told the truth and now she could be deported for a mistake. This kind of thing happens a lot and Immigration will say we do not care how this happened, you did something wrong. Yes but it was not her intention. She made an innocent mistake because the DMV has to asked everyone citizen or not to register to vote, and if you are not a citizen and you do not know that you cannot vote.
Steve
Waukegan IL

 

I'm 19 and everyday I think to myself if I wasn't "illegal" I'd be somebody right now. I came here when I was 1 year old. I didn't even know I was illegal till I was in fifth grade. All I spoke was English and was in gifted and talented classes. In fifth grade I went to a charter school where I worked my butt off to earn a trip to Washington D.C and I did. I went to the Smithsonian and the capital, Arlington Cemetery, I even met a senator who met and was inspired by Martin Luther King. The day came where I would visit the White House, and it was the happiest day of short life as a fifth grader. I was held back as my teacher explained to me that I wasn't allowed in because I was different. And I cried on the steps outside of the building. I called my mom and she told me I was illegal. But that didn't stop me. I've been to Philadelphia, California, New York, Utah, Chicago. All with my intelligence. I went to college in high school because I finished early. I participated in plays because I love acting, and have been asked to model. But after my 18th birthday I realized I couldn't keep going. I graduated from high school and managed to get college credits too. Things were harder in the real world. I couldn't never pay for college. And even if I was born in Mexico, I have the American culture in me. I can tell you the 50 capital and states, tell you the American history since Plymouth Rock. And I'm not holding a grudge. If I couldn't do it all, one day my kids will. And even if I'm not legal I know I'm a model citizen, and a good person. I didn't choose this but I trust in God. I still envy people that have social security. They don't know what they have. They have a chance. You would never guess my dilemma if you saw me walking down the street. A young beautiful smart gal, you'd think I would have it all. But I don't, until then I live my humble life.
Val
Denver, Colorado

 

I came to this country when I was 15. I started High School and it was very hard to understand the language but I finally learned it! Now I'm facing my reality. I'm a student at a four year college and I want to be a teacher but unfortunately I can't because of my "status."
Even with this problem, I receive state aid and my husband pays half of my tuition. We are making a big effort to get my education but it is sad I will not have a job as a teacher.
My husband has been waiting 10 years for his residency papers and immigration only says that he needs to wait more! The future now seems so obscure. I don't understand we are good people, we don't even have record, we pay taxes, we go to school, we work hard, and know everything about this country. What else they want? My education is not cheap at all! I will not get a job? This is not right! Yes, I'm illegal but I can say I'm a better citizen than many lazy Americans that live from the government. I have many neighbors like that; they don't work, don't go to school, they don't do anything but get money and food from the government. I don't want food and money from this government. In fact I don't want anything, I just want a chance to get the job I deserve.
The Student
Texas

 

I came to the United States when I was 10 years old, along with my sister, brother and father. My mother passed away when we were living in Guatemala and for this reason, we left in search for a better future. I am now 18years old. I attended high school and college at the same time. I wish to major in business management. I pay for my school even though I've had the opportunity to use my scholarships, I can't use them. I am illegal. It is very difficult to pay full intuition with a minimum wage job. I found it so difficult to answer when I am asked why don't you get a better job? Why don't you use your scholarships you have earned? Why don’t you have a license? I wish people knew that I am not lazy or incompetent of improving myself. Rather I am literally stuck. It is as if you taunt a dog with food but keep the food outside its cage so he can never reach it. Yes, I am truly frustrated. I don’t know anything about Guatemala. And my father is not the most caring man. My younger brother, my older sister and me raised ourselves. Now I am 18, if immigration finds me, I will be treated like a criminal and deported to a place where violence, specially on women is unbearable. I hope things get better, and I pray to god to give me patience.
Silvia
Bowie, Maryland

 

My sister was brought to the US through the Family Reunification program. They were all very excited because there were four and would all come together to the US. When they went to their interview, their son was denied parole to the US. They told my sister that her son was over 21 years of age and he would not be allowed to travel. However, the request for parole was completed and approved before his 21st birthday. There is another situation and that is that he is almost totally blind and he has remained alone in his Country of origin, Cuba. My sister, her husband, and their daughter were allowed to travel to the US but my nephew (her son) was not. My sister was able to apply for his parole (DS230) while at the interview and only on the date of the interview. My nephew has been given an appointment for his parole interview on December of 2014 (three years from now). Our concern is that he has little sight and has no way to take care of himself. The interest section in Cuba has indicated that they will allow expedited travel under certain conditions of emergency but they do not specify what they mean by emergency nor do they categorize emergencies at all. He remains alone and has been dependent on his parents for most of his life since he lost most of his sight. We are very desperate and would like to figure out if there is a way to get him here sooner without causing alarm to the government that he might become a public dependent here. We are prepared to take care of him when he arrives here.
Joe
Miami, Florida

 

My three sisters and myself were born here. My mother was born in Mexico. Ever since my two oldest sisters were born my mother has done the impossible. She has been working as a house keeper as well selling homemade food to our neighbors and friends. She has never gone against the law and has given us everything just so we could go to school and have a home. We have tried to help her with getting her U.S. citizen papers. She has tried to get her U.S. citizen papers with a lawyer and paid more than 7,000 and they would never do anything. We have lost a lot of money to help my mother walk to the streets freely without having fear of getting stopped or pulled over for any reason.
Ricky
Mission, TX

 

I was only 4 years old when we crossed the Rio Grande, so we have been here around 17 years. I started Kindergarten here so it wasn't very hard to learn English. Everything I learned was in English.  I learned about the history of the USA, not Mexico. I personally feel as if I was American. But that's all it is, a feeling.
Maria
Kress, TX

 

My husband got pulled over for no reason. His visa was up to date and is married to a US citizen. They took him for no reason at all. I got a lawyer but it seems like he is not doing anything to get him out. I’m not working and it is very hard for me to get him out. His bail bond is 5,000.00. I pray to God everyday to help me. I just want to get my husband out. We have a little girl. And he had never been away from me this long.
Reshanda Lopez
Tucson, Az

 

My cousin was a bright person he wanted to be a engineer and at age 14 he could fix cars! All he wanted was a chance. He had a high grades in high school and after graduating he started working to save for his dream and become an engineer or mechanic. Last week he was caught driving without a license and got deported.  Two days ago he died in Mexico.  He was here since he was 2yrs old and his whole life was taken away.
No name given
Oregon

 

I came to the U.S. when I was 13 years old. My wife tried to fix my papers but when I went to Ciudad Juarez everything went downhill. First of all the immigration officers don't let you talk. She asked me how I crossed and I told her the truth, hiding in the back sit of a truck. She said that's a lie. So just like that she denied my case. Now I been living illegally for 7 years. If anybody reading this is thinking about going to Ciudad Juarez, you will be treated worst than a criminal. So please beware. Immigration is the most unfair agency there is.
Aron
Houston TX

 

I moved to the United States in 1977 at the age of 2 with my family from Canada. When I was 18 I did some stupid things and ended up having to serve 35 days in jail and two years of probation. Since then I have made huge changes in my life and haven't even had a speeding ticket since 1996. This past spring I had to travel back to Canada for a family funeral. When I tried to return to the states I was detained at the border because of my criminal record. Customs officers confiscated my green card, took my fingerprints and my mug shot. They then took several hours to fill out all the correct paperwork before they paroled me into the country. I have crossed that border countless times since my arrest as a teen and this was the first time I have ever had any trouble returning to the states. Now I am facing deportation because of a mistake I made nearly 20 years ago. I have had to pay out $4000 to an attorney plus several hundreds of dollars in filing fees for applications just to stay in this country with my family. I recently had to appear in immigration court for my preliminary hearing. My new court date is set for SIX MONTHS from now! The temporary green card that was issued to me expires two months before my rescheduled hearing. This means that I will have to apply for yet another temporary green card. I am convinced that this is nothing more than extortion by the United States government. Not only extortion of money but of my time as well. This entire process has made me bitter and very unhappy with this country. How is it that a productive and responsible adult that hasn’t broken any laws in nearly 20 years has to prove themselves worthy of living in this country while there are people out there like Lindsay Lohan than can travel in and out of this country without any trouble and continue to thumb their noses at the judicial system?
James
Mason City, Iowa

 

I was brought to the United States at the age of 7. I am now 17. I had no idea where I was going, why we had to run from people, sleep outside in the cold. I remember waking up the next morning starving, thirsty, and cold. Then, all of a sudden, the group we were with panicked. Everyone started running toward a Chevrolet. I remember running too, my mom and brother in the back, us being the last ones because my mom being old, could not run fast. People yelling at us to leave her or we were gunna get caught. I was so scared. I was waiting for her, begging her to please hurry up. I wasn't getting in that car without her. And neither was my brother and my twin sister. Thankfully she got inside the car. I thank God everyday for letting me be in America. I want to be successful but it seems impossible to go to college. My dad is the only one who works and will not be able to provide enough money for my sister and me. He is one of the most hardworking men I know. I love him and my family so much and admire them every day of my life. I want to be able to help them. I want them to be proud of me because they brought me here to have a better life. I know for a fact that everything is going to be okay because God is with us through it all.
No name given
New Jersey

 

I’m 15 years old. I was brought here to America when I was 3 years old in search for a better life. I’m a Sophomore in high school and have good grades. I want to go to college and become an ob/gyn. But it is sad knowing that you are an "illegal alien" and you don’t have all the good opportunities that your "legal friends" have. Why did this happen to us? We aren't bad people. We came here for a better life, a better future. Yes I know I am from Mexico but it feels like I was born here. I don’t know nothing about Mexico, I don’t even know the part of my family that is over there. I’m afraid of something happening and having to go back because my heart would die.
No name given
Columbus, Ohio

 

I married my husband, an illegal alien from Mexico. I didn't care. I was young and in love. We applied for his papers and hit road block after road block. The stresses this put on our marriage were unbelievable. When we were married he told me of his son in Mexico who's mother had died when he was a baby. We tried to bring him to the US legally for over 5 years with such luck, so we paid a coyote and brought him here when he was almost 8 yrs old. My husband and I are now divorced but remain friends. His son choose to come live with me and his half brothers and half sister. My husband signed over his parental rights so that I could adopt this boy of mine and apply for his papers. We did everything by the book and are still waiting for the last step of the immigration process, the meeting in Juarez at the Consulate. My son just turned 17 and I fear for the outcome of this trip. My husband was denied his papers due to his birth certificate not being registered because in his little village people were born and people died and not much was thought of registering them except in the village itself. I checked my son's birth certificate through a lawyer and know we are okay there, but he will be 18 soon and I fear they will say he has to stay in Mexico. My son speaks no Spanish and knows nothing of his native country. As far as he is concerned his country is the United States. I pray every night that things will go well and I will not have to be away from my other children long in processing his papers.
No name given
Kelso, WA

 

I was brought here when I was 6 years old. I lived all my life in the US and I am still attending high school. After I get out of school I have no idea of what i am going to do. I was not born here so attending college is not possible for me. I also can not get a job because I have no social security. I was thinking of going back to Mexico but I have nothing there. It was not my choice to come. I did not know better. I hear that in Mexico there is a lot of people being killed and I have no idea what I am going to do.
Daniel
Moncks corner, SC

 

I came to the U.S when I was 8 months. My parents are both immigrants from Egypt. They lived in Cairo, Egypt for a while then they moved to Mexico where my dad had family members. I was born there and 3 months after I was born my father died. In Mexico my mom met my step dad  who I thought was my dad until recently. When I was 8 months we came to the U.S. My dream had always been to become a Marine like my step grandfather was and my older brothers and sister. They are all dead. Aaron died recently in Afghanistan. He's the bravest person I've ever met. But because I am "illegal” here I cant become a Marine until I become a resident of the U.S. or a citizen. But recently I learned that if I apply as soon as I turn 18 I might be able to qualify. I hope so. It's my dream.
Aludra
Greensboro,NC

 

I crossed the border because I was being oppressed by the drug cartel. I escaped to America but I wasn't necessarily safe. I was wanted by the drug cartel and I knew my life was in danger. An assassination attempt on my life later happened and failed but killed 2 others. The police brought me in and questioned me. I went to court and was found innocent. I was placed back in jail again for reasons they did not tell me. They then deported me back to Mexico where I lived a low profile. I ventured back into the U.S. and went to Utah knowing not much drug trafficking happens there. I went to get a job but was reported and am now in jail and am being scheduled to be deported in a week. I am going back to no family, no money, no friends, no house, NO HOPE. The border patrol told me if I hopped again I would be sentenced to 2 years in jail. I'm a good person and don't deserve to be treated the way I am being treated. Is this what America is, corrupt? I guess so, unless some laws are changed.
Jose
St. George Utah

 

I came here with my mom and dad in 1987 when I was 2 years old. I have been here all my life and I don't know any other country except the USA as my home. It was really hard for my parents to take us forward in this country but they made it. Know I'm married with a citizen of the united states and he filed a petition for me. I have three kids. My appointment was on December 5, 2011 and they want more proof that my marriage is not a lie. Now they want another interview and more evidence of our marriage.
Melissa Valenzuela
Riverside, California

 

I was 16 when I first met my husband who was also a teen. He had only been here from Guatemala for a few months. I was naive to what illegal immigration was. We fell in love very fast and were together for 8 years and was blessed with 3 baby girls. One day in June 2010 we were driving home to Kansas City from Atlanta after we spent a week on family vacation, when our nightmare came true. He got pulled over and was arrested & then deported. We were told his chances of coming back (even with a $8,000-$10,000 attorney) were 50/50 and could take over a 1 1/2 years just to be told no possibly. This man had never been a day without us. Needless to say, he set off for his journey back to his home, with us. While in Reynosa in August 2010, my husband, my children’s father went missing. Dropped off the face of the earth. Vanished into thin air. We have searched for him but Mexico does not cooperate, the U.S. doesn't care. If you remember in August 2010 Mexican Authorities found 72 bodies that had all been massacred by the drug cartel in Reynosa, MX. We may never know if he was one of them, or if he died in route from the heat. My daughters have no closure. They have no father. Our oldest has to see a psychologist and is on depression medications for depression & post traumatic stress syndrome. My citizen children suffer everyday. We financially are not making it. They do not get the Christmas or Birthdays they deserve we can barely keep the bills paid and gas in the car for me to get to work. I miss my husband my best friend. Te amo mucho y te extrano mucho
Jackie Young
Kansas City, MO

 

My cousin was brought here when she was 4. At 23 She was a bright young woman with her future ahead. Earlier this year ICE told her in order to get her papers she must return to Mexico. She died last weekend in Mexico and is being buried today. She was to be gone a few months, now she is gone forever. Her American Dream, one of many, to be an airplane mechanic.
Boyle Heights, CA

 

My parents moved here to the US about 13 years ago. When my mom was crossing the border she was pregnant. I was the incoming baby. My parents came here for me to have a better life. They are constantly scared of getting deported. They are afraid that if this happens our family will get separated. I have one brother and one sister. I’ve only been to Mexico once because my parents are scared of the immigration.
Jorge Vargas
Denver, Colorado

 

I was brought up to the USA in 1997, I was only 7 believe it or not I didn’t know anything about being "ILLEGAL". When we crossed the border my mom said to run when she ran, to hide when she would hide. My mom ran away from my abuser dad because he was a alcoholic and would beat her up any chance he could get. After getting threatened with her life she decided to look for a better place and came to the USA.
California

 
My name is Josefina. I’ve been in the U.S. since I was 3. I barely know any Spanish. I am 17 years old and have a little brother who is 11. He was born in the U.S. , but since my mom left to get her visa she never came back.  Me and my little brother had to drop out of school because where we live, the schools are very strict and without my mom, we couldn’t be there. It’s been so long that I haven’t seen my mom or my little brother. My little brother left with my older sister. She is struggling to make ends meet. She has 2 little baby boys and lives in a 2 bedroom. He left with my older sister so he would keep going to school, but it’s been so hard on us. I wanted to finish school and make something good of me. I had big hopes and dreams, and they been gone since 2 years ago. My life changed so much, I had to grow up so fast. When I got sick there was barely anyone who would take care of me. I couldn’t get a job because of no job experience. ALL I’VE BEEN WISHING FOR IS MY MOM TO COME BACK. I just don’t understand how other people could be so cruel and with a blink of an eye take your parents away. It’s hard to explain what I feel inside because everyday I think of my little brother and how he’s doing. I think about my mom if she is even eating. Everyday life in Mexico is so hard especialy if you don’t have no money saved up. I  wish other people would understand what the kids feel so they wouldn’t have to do this to us.
Josefina
Ohio

 

I have been married to my wonderful husband for 11 yrs. He got his papers in 2003 pretty easily since he had proof that he was in the States before 98. I really hate how his family is treated. They pay their bills, are not on any kind of welfare and yet get treated as criminals. Even my husband gets pulled over for nothing except he is Hispanic. I mean the officer was so rude to him until my husband spoke to him in English then looked at me and apologized. I agree send the criminals away, not the ones who are pulled over for driving w/o a dl! I pray that things will get better and they will figure out something that is fair and just! I love the USA. God Bless the USA. I am just disappointed in the Government and their broken promises!
Jennifer
Atlanta, GA

 

My parents brought me from Mexico when I was 3 years old. We used to live in New York for about two years. I didn’t speak English so I had to take some ESL class for the two years. I went to school and it was pretty confusing at first. I mixed English and Spanish at the same time. So we finally decided to move to Minneapolis to see if we had better luck. I stared going to school and I was one of the few Latinos in that school. I used interpret to my teachers, family or strangers. But as the time went by we been seen a lot more Hispanic people on the streets, school and mostly everywhere. I finished grade school. I met my husband when I was a junior at high school we started dating for three years.  They found me with a learning disability. I got help threw my junior and senior year. So finally i finished High School. I got married when I was 18 and he was 19. We had our first baby when I was 19 it was hard to be so young and having a baby. But as the time went by we had accomplished so many thing together, and now we have three wonderful kids. My husband works at a bakery for 4 years now. He started from the bottom and thanks to his hard effort he become a manager. In his spare time he works on fixing computers . One day on July 3 of 2010 we decided to go on a family trip with my parents.  We were going to Duluth MN. When we were getting close to our destination a sheriff pulled us over and ask my husband for his driver license and insurance but he didn’t had any of those two things. So the sheriff ask us if someone can bring us home because an immigration officer was going to take my husband. He was detained for 7 days in jail. This was by Saturday afternoon and he was in jail for 7 days. We paid the bond for 75 thousand on the 4th day that he got out of jail and went to talk to my immigration lawyer. Since then we have been working on his case. I became a US citizen and now I’m alone with my three kids. It’s been 5 month since he went to Mexico. This is going to be our first holidays that we are not going to be together. I love my husband a lot. It’s been pretty hard for us. Hopefully everything turns out fine. We were not born here but we respect this country and we value all the opportunities we have.
Soribeth
Minneapolis MN

 

I've lived on this land ever since I was a kid. I learned the culture bonded with many students. I don't discriminate against any of my fellow peers. I enjoy been with every single one of them. I've always had a dream and it’s to one day to be able to have the rights they do. I keep my grades up. I stay out of trouble. I help the community the most that I can. I do feel part of this country. Yes I am from Mexico but I don't know anything of it. I don't even know where I was born or some of my family. Yes sometimes I just have to go home and cry about the life I'm living. It's a train wreck but I can't do anything about. I can't change my life now. This is the country I know the best and that I have learned everything from. There are not many people in this town that I know that are my age and are not here legally in this country so yes I do have to hang out with all my legal friends and yes I do live in this country and I love it but I know I'm not the same. If I got sent back I don't know what I would do. I have no clue what the money there is like. I don't know ANYTHING. My dad came here when he was 14 to come looking for a better life. In the country we call FREE once you start living this life you are no longer free. You are forced to live in the shadows. I can't even get a decent job or a drivers license but I can't go back to Mexico. I don't understand Spanish. I'm always afraid of something happening and having to go back because my heart would die and I can't leave this country because I’ve been here since I was 6 months old. I could write a book about my life but sadly I can't even do that.
David
Tupelo, Mississippi

 

I'm 18 and I've been here since I was 1. I came here from Mexico with my older sister. I graduated high school this year. I've spent many hours thinking of what I want in life and I know what that is. But I'm at a road block because of me being an illegal alien. It's tough when the people you've known all your life are getting things together and moving on with life, while you just watch them and wish you had what they do.
Jesus
Fresno, CA

 

I love my husband very much! I'm half white half American Indian. He is Hispanic. We have been together almost 4years. We are planning on having a baby but I'm terrified because I don't know what’s gonna happen to my husband! I'm embarrassed by the way the government works here and not to mention but our own president promised to help get the Hispanics legal but the minute he got in the white house he started deporting them!
No name given
Tupelo, MS

 

My parents brought me from Mexico at the age of 14. I didnt speak English and I missed my grandparents terribly. I started high school in an ESL class. After a year, I was moved to regular English courses because I had made good progress. As time went by, I traveled with my robotics team to different states for competitions, met Nobel Prize Laureate Lech Walesa, traveled some more, all while in high school. I was smart and ambitious. I graduated top ten of a class of 650 students. I consider myself an extremely lucky person. I worked hard through high school, and New Mexico is the only state (to my knowledge) that offers state aid for college regardless of status. I was ecstatic when I learned this. I also had wonderful people who believed in my potential and helped me pay for school. Now, I have a degree engineering, and no prospect to get a job. I am just hanging in limbo. It is sad, but I am hoping to that something will happen for all the kids who want to make their dreams come true.
Jen
Albuquerque, NM

 

I do believe that the laws in the USA are necessary but it also needs to be fair to the people. My family and I have been treated very unfairly by the immigration laws in the USA. About 5 years ago I was arrested for my own prescription medicine. I tried to get the case dismissed but I had the most unprofessional and unhelpful attorney and ended up getting 2 years probation which was unfair but finished it up without any problems. One Sunday morning in April of 2011, I was home with my 3 little girls and around 7am we were awakened by a banging on the front door. My little girls woke up crying and scared. When I checked the front door it was immigration officers that told me they had a warrant for my arrest and took me away in handcuffs in front of my little girls and all of my neighbors like if I was a bad criminal. I was taken to immigration jail and spent 2 of the longest and hardest months of my life.( don't let me start on how corrupt and unfair the treatment is in that evil place).  I thought after seeing the judge and him hearing my case and understanding that I have a family with little children he would surely understand and give me a chance to to live in the USA, but he me deported after all that time in jail and away from my family. I have lived in the USA for 22 years I am a Paramedic Firefighter and have served the citizens of America and saved many lives with no thanks from anyone. Is this what America about, destroying beautiful families and traumatizing and hurting beautiful little girls? I left Trinidad 23 years ago and everything has changed. Is this what we do to good hard working American families?
Anthony
Cooper City, Florida

 

Our story is about my sister and her husband- He was from San Miguel De Allende, GTO Mexico. Antonio came to the US as a teen. He was brought here by his brothers to work and  help take care of his very poor family back in Mexico. My sister and he met, fell in love and got married when he was 18- and then began the process to get him legalized. He worked and had an ITIN nuber to pay his taxes all along. Along the way they had one son. They jumped thru all the hoops required to get things done, paid all of the inflated, corrupt fees and 10 years into it, he finally had his appointment in Ciudad Juarez. They said he would have to be sent back to Mexico for a few months for coming here illegally. By the time they sent him back my sister had also had a daughter. He was there MONTHS past the time they said would be required. We wrote letters and asked for help in getting him back here. So now with two children here, we begged for him to be returned here- after 11 months my sister pleaded with him to just come back home. He said lets give it a full year and see what happens as he wanted to be legal. One day after that year passed he was brutally murdered in his home town. I am completely disgusted with the ease of how people from other countries can get here and also get the US money for aide and such but for our neighboring country we sit by and let people starve and make it practically impossible to get to come here legally- when SINCE IT IS OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, we have much more of a reason to help this country and make it a better neighbor. I’m tired of hearing about how everyone illegal should be shipped back. Don't say that unless you want to food and clothe and love the LEGAL kids that are here by them. Don't bring them here to work and think they won’t fall in love and/or have children while here  -- they are human just like you and I. My sister was asked to speak to the congressmen when all of this happened and she did --  in some effort to try and make things better, but of course to no avail. Someone please come up with something that makes sense and isn't naive to the fact that these people are human. We started this -- we watched their government become corrupt in our own back yard and did nothing while instead we poked our nose in so many other far away countries. We brought them here to work and acted as tho they wouldn't build "life and love" here. We allowed the immigration process to be SO CORRUPT that there isn't much other choice but to come here illegally. We did this -- we need to take our responsibility for it. The ones that are here -- if not criminals, let them stay and realign immigration process to be decent and non corrupt.
Debbie Jones
Blue Ridge Texas

 

I did not immigrate to the US, but my grandparents and my father did when he was five years old in 1951 from Latvia following the second World War. Though I obviously benefit from the privilege of my birth as a US citizen, the stories my family has shared about the desperate need for a better life as the impetus for making such a move are deeply imprinted on my consciousness. People will always seek a better life for their families and their children and that is the resounding reason for migration. I have been fortunate to travel extensively through Mexico and I have worked in my job as a social worker with immigrants from Mexico and Central America and the motivation for these current migrants is absolutely the same as it was for my own family 60 years ago. It is just simply morally reprehensible to deny people the opportunity to live and prosper as much as possible by subjugating hard working, courageous people to second class status. I am continually disturbed by the racist, nativist attitudes espoused by so many politicians and even every day people. It comes down to one simple question - what would you do for the love of your children? If migration could bring them the best chance at a good life, wouldn't you do it in an instant? The current immigration laws are corrupt, unfair and a true violation of the human rights of countless people, while the businesses of the United States grow fat on exploiting the cheap labor afforded to them through Nafta. But no life is cheap and we need to welcome people who want to improve their lives (which also benefits the rest of society). To those of you who are struggling with being marginalized as people without documents, I pray that change will come for you. Please know that there are people among you who would welcome you and feel blessed by sharing in an inclusive community with you and your families.
Maija
Indianapolis

 

My story begins when I was 10 years old. My parents brought me and my sisters here to the country for a better life and future. My mother, sisters and I are Illegal aliens, my dad is not, since he got his green card/residency during the Amnesty of the 80s! Once we were here, my dad filed for us to receive residency and we were accepted!!! Life was great, the U.S. was very different from the place that I had came from but I loved it here! At first, it was a bit difficult when I started school, but after a year or so, I began to understand and speak English. The next 8 years went great, everything was going the way we wanted to, we were in process of obtaining our residency and we were living the American Dream. Everything started to fall apart when I graduated High School. I wanted to enter college go to University and continue with my education but couldn’t because I had not yet received Legal status in the Country. The only way I could attend was by paying. I couldn’t afford college so I decided to just wait. To make things even worse, my dad, who is a resident, got arrested by ICE (for some things he did in the past) and was placed in a detention center. He has now been there for two months and will soon be deported to Mexico (my dad wanted it that way, otherwise he would’ve had to spend 2 years in jail, something he didn’t want, nor did we)! Now everything is over, our American dream has come to a end! We never received our residency, our only choice now is to follow my dad and go back to Mexico. We will be leaving after Christmas. There is no future for us here in America, after all, we are "Illegal Aliens"! And even though we have to leave the country, I am very thankful for all the great things that I learned and experienced in this great country!!! Oh America, I will miss you! I love you so much that it hurts to leave you! But no matter how long it takes, no matter the things/obstacles I have to go through, I know that someday, we will see each other again. I will be back!
Ulen
Phoenix

 

My parents were in New York in the year of 1995. I was pregnant and I was due in 3 months but my mom got in a fight with someone and she left back to her home country, India and that's where I was born. In 1999, my brother was born. In 2003 my parents, me and my brother moved to Houston. Since then my life changed. I love America, it's home to me now. My whole family has a social security number and we can't do nothing. I don't think we will get a green card. All my friends drive a car, go vacation outside of the United States and I can't. What did I do so wrong? Our first lawyer messed up on something and it cost us our whole life. My dad works like a dog, 11 hours a day. My dad's 2 brothers passed and he couldn't even make it to the funeral because they were in India. My life sucks, I feel like killing m self but I have two parents that look up to me...I make good grades in school and I can't even go to the college, I want to. I have skills that can get my scholarships but I can't even apply for them either because I don't have a green card.
Parteek
Houston, TX

 

My sweet husband has been torn from our family 3 times because he was not "Legal". After 5 years of fighting for his freedom.... nothing has worked! After being raised in America for 31 years and leaving his homeland of mexico at age 6. His mother never got his papers. He has never known home anywhere than the US as his home. He has paid taxes worked hard in the US for over 20 years. He had only 1 criminal charge of record at age 18 and therefore was banned in the US forever... Never has since had a criminal charge in 21 years and the US immigration will still not let him come into the US. He has been shot, raped (as a child). stabbed, burtually beaten with bricks as a child and still turned out to be the best father, friend, brother and hero you could ever imagine. He has been deported 6 times and now he has given up and is leaving behind 4 US citizen children (one handicaped). One US citizen wife, US citizen sister, mother and father. After 6 attorneys, losing our house and all the money to fight to keep him here we lost. We lost everything because the US doesn’t believe in rehabilitation and the crime he committed when he was 18 (drug charge). He didn’t even serve prison time for this crime, they just deported him. These people crossing the border to be with their US families are being treated worse than rapist and murders and he is still paying the dear price from 21 years ago.... The US doesn't even give a human being the chance to be a better person.  How do I tell my kids daddy is never coming back Because the US thinks he is a bad guy??? Instead.... The US will support the US kids since the father will not be here to support them.
Rebecca Cortes
Duvall, Washington

 

My father side was migrated to the U.S.A at early ages. My father, my two uncles, my aunts, and my grandfather came from Guyana to America at the same time. My grandfather died when he came to America, he died at the age of 30 because of cancer. On my mom side half of my family came from Jamaica. My mom was born in Jamaica and she came to America at the age of 6 with my grandmother the year of 1986. I never met my other grandfather on my mom side. I only saw him once, when he came to see my father in Albany, NY . That was the last time I ever saw him. My dad been in jail for almost 3 years & now they trying to deport him back to Guyana with my other two uncles.
Angjahnea
Bronx, NY

 

I first met my father at the age of 3. He was missing my entire toddler years because he was in the United States to make money in order to give me and my brother a better future. Little did I know that moving with my mother to America to reunite with my father would bring a phase in m life where I feel unwanted and lost at a place I forever thought was home. Yes I’m thankful for everything America has done for me but I feel captive in a country that I thought was my home. I’m now 19 and hating the fact that I’m denied every higher education opportunity I get because not only can I not afford it but half the programs I want to join want "American citizens”. I was raised here. The only language I speak properly is English. The only land I can remember walking on is the United States. I abide by the laws. and I’m sure many other like me do and they are the hard workers who deserve to be citizens of this country that was built by these immigrants from centuries back. We are the face of America, yet we are treated like unwanted guests. Is this how you treat children who only wish to help better the country that had given so much to them the country they love and dream to one day be a part of?
Sarah
Queens, New York

 

I came here with my mother in 1977. She had a student visa to go to school. She placed me in a private school & started working as a maid doing sometimes 3 jobs a week because we needed money for rent & groceries. My father was already here with a green card but he refused to pay the bills after we came, so she never got a chance to go to nursing school, she had to pay bills. It was worse than the color purple movie. He came home with sometimes 2 dates & beat my mother if she was not polite to them, which she never was in his mind. She divorced him. She married an American who really acted like he loved me to pieces & spent lots of time joking around with me before they got married. As soon as they did, they sent me back to the Bahamas. I don't know if she was thinking forever but he certainly did not want any kids. I was 13, they met when I was 7. I came back here through a lot of prayer but with no visa, just a clean police record & passport. I have no rights, living again with an unfriendly stepfather & verbally abusive mother, no money. Two years after being sent to the Bahamas all my cousins got amnesty under Ronald Reagan
Leona
Homestead FL

 

My husband is a great man. He did unfortunately get deported once before and came back illegal to help his then family. He has always worked two jobs if needed to help support his family, legal jobs not street jobs, a respectful man raising respectful kids. He has always worked hard to support all 5 of his kids. We have always feared that ICE would come to pick him up because of these laws, and now he is in the hands of ICE.  Tomorrow I’m told he flies to Mexico, without saying anything, without any type of last hug or touch, without pleading our case and saying how hurtful his leaving would hurt the family not only emotionally but financially. I have no problem moving to mexico. But really do we have to when my husband was provided legally for his family??? I understand people who are into drugs or killing people over a color, but when people are hard working and not relying on the state to help pay for their kids....i hope that one day our country realizes that we all are descendents from immigrants. People need to open their eyes and pay attention to much more severe things that are going wrong in our country like hunger on the streets....Hope we can all get along sooner than later before it becomes too late.
Kassandra
Yakima, Washington

 

I married a Mexican man who was illegal. We dated for 3 years and married in 1995. As soon as his divorce was final, the same day to be exact, he started to treat me very bad talking on phone about papers all the time he did get green card and we have 2 sons he always says they don't look like him and they do! But right now today he has took money to his family while I needed surgery he said I could die first! He went back last year cheating on me and came back said he wants a divorce and kicked me out of the house and me sick. No more for me. Mexico please keep your people as no one here wants them.
Priscila
Ocoee FL

 

I am a young immigrant that came here to the United States when I was 11 years old. I have now just turned 18. I am originally from Honduras. I started going to school 2 weeks after I got here. Now I'm a senior in High School. I dream of been a full certified Automotive Technician. I have the potential and capability of becoming one. The only problem is I'm an immigrant. I contacted my dream Technical Automotive School, and all they said was that I couldn't attend their school because of my illegal status. I wish I could go to school to be the first one to actually success in my family.
Kevin Murillo
Houston TX

 

I married my Filipina wife in Hong Kong December 14, 2009, came back to USA to file immigration through my attorney to get her here...She could not even get a tourist visa...We tried to thru US consulate in HK. I go this week to HK for six months, draining what little savings I have to be with her, and we are both aware we may have to divorce if we cannot be together...we have tried to do what is right...I have even thought that I would try to bring her illegally after all this...the USA government has made things so unreasonable for those of us that marry abroad, and that heart wrenching...it is not fair...
Michael M. Nelson
Spokane, WA

 

I have been with my husband 9 years. We have two boys together. He is Hispanic... I am so afraid of losing my husband and my kids dad because of this law. My husband has paid his taxes and been in US for right at 20yrs. We have paid lots of money for his papers only for it to be a scam. The US doesn’t make it easy for the ones that has done right by this country. But punishes all... I use to be proud to be an Alabamian but now I ashamed of what it’s become by treating any human this way. Have they considered the families they are hurting? Me and my kids are citizens. Have you thought of the citizens you are hurting in this process also? What would Jesus do? Try thinking upon that.. Would he judge us for skin, language or if we are here illegally? I don’t believe so.. Judge Sharon Blackburn when you stopped this to think about your decision, I thought maybe you had a heart. But now I see you are just as selfish about people’s lives as other folks out there.. The saying is what goes around comes around. Everyone has to face the Lord one day and its then you are faced with the wrong things you’ve done in life.
Kassie
Dothan, Alabama

 

My husband and I have been together 10 years and married for 3 and a half, we have 2 children, one mine, one ours. He entered the us from Mexico when he was a child and had his papers but failed to file a form. So we had to obtain a lawyer. Listen… YES immigration IS very very tough, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE!! My husband had a felony and was denied his right to stay. We filed an appeal and wrote letters and he finally received his green card and we are VERY VERY grateful. I am a US born citizen and it was the hardest thing to go thru this because I felt like my country was turning their back on me. It ultimately took 7 1/2 years dealing with immigration and $16,900. It is worth it. DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! To those of you who decide to live under the radar and not apply for spousal visa, you are making the wrong choice. You need to apply NOW. It is going to cost money and take years but this is the choice and 7 years from now you can say you made it or 7 years from now you will wish you had started yesterday. When it is over and you have that beautiful green card it is going to be worth it. My heart goes out to all of you. I know how hard it is but you can it. God bless.
No name given
Seatlle, Washington

 

I am currently a High school senior and I am determined to go to college. I have a GPA of 4.2 and I am currently ranked number nine in my class. I have taken all the challenging courses that my high school has offered and I have passed them all with As. However, I am at a disadvantage. I was born in Mexico but my parents divorced when I was three years old. My mom remarried a couple of years ago and my step dad is a legal citizen of the United States. Yet, he has not filed for my citizenship, and thus, I still am an undocumented citizen. I cannot apply for FAFSA, or any federal aid. I really am lost and not clear and what I should do. All I wish for is for some help. Please, give us undocumented residents a chance! You will not regret it.
No name given
Bakersfield, Califorina

 

I have been in the USA since i was 8 yrs old. I came here with my mother on a visitor’s visa but we just stayed. I have seen a couple of lawyers and they all tell me the same thing. In order for me to become legal I need to be married to a citizen. I am a single young mother with 2 kids. I want the best for my boys but without being able to get a drivers license, job or go to school it gets really hard to provide for them. It's really stressful & I just wish it would be easier for us immigrants to get jobs and school. It would be great if I could become legal here without getting married. I have big dreams, I want to accomplish for me & my kids but I’m just being stopped. I think some laws should be change & give immigrants more opportunities here.
Liseth
Jacksonville, FL

 

My mom paid coyotes to bring us over illegally. I still remember it and I still have the Happy Meal toy from the trip. At the time, I didn't think anything of it because I was 5 and was just happy that I was going to see my mom and other siblings again. Then as I grew up I kept noticing that my mom never applied for good jobs and only did seasonal work in the fields or in a warehouse. I think I was 16 when I found out what it mean to be illegal. It was like all the doors to my future were shut in my face and I was just starting high school. I could go to college, but how would I pay for it if I couldn't get a job? I remained as squeaky clean as possible concerning the law. I've never been arrested, never worked with a fake social, didn't succumb to gangs, etc. Aside from being here illegally, I have been law-abiding.
Genoveva
Seattle, WA

 

In 2004 I married a us citizen. Two years after the marriage I had a child. Once my baby was born he became a crazy person. He abused me raped me and hit me many times. Last year I had the courage to leave him. I took my kid and left. But in the meantime I try to get my citizenship but for some reason I've been denied because of a condition on my status. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid I'm going to get deported and I will lose my child since she is a citizen and I'm not.
Ileana
Greencastle PA

 

I was brought to this country when I was 3. My parents are immigrants and so are my 3 brothers. I didn't know a "green paper card" would matter so much in this country. For years my family has seen people move up in society with us just staying behind. I cannot start at the community college because "there are no funds for the TAFSA". I cannot get a job. I'm stuck at a dead end. I read earlier today that now they are trying to pass in Houston that if a cop stops you they ask you for a social security. I already have a fear of being deported. Things are just getting worse
Jonathan
Houston, TX

I have been married to my husband for a little over 3 years now. He works hard for me and our 2 year old son. He came from Mexico when he was 1 years old (a baby). It’s so sad that he can’t get papers because i don’t want him to get taken away from me or his son.
Randi
Madras, OR

 

I was brought here by my mother at age 2 and half, along with my brother and sister. Life after
that was hard and harsh. We were living with an abusive step father for a long time. My mother has been working the same job for years and I can tell its wearing her out. My brother was the first of the family to graduate from high school. I'm 3rd of the family to graduate high school. I now work full time and go to school part time. Living in the shadow's is the hardest thing in life, scared of getting pulled over, scared of getting in trouble for no reason but only because of my status. Me and my family are here for the reason, to have a better life and ! I don’t and never will blame my mother for bringing me here. I appreciate what she did. I have a high school diploma graduated with honors soon to get a college degree and also transfer to a University. I'm here wanting to make a difference to prove to the world that I am somebody as well as everyone else in the same situation. I deserve to be a Citizen because I work hard like one. Everyone deserves a chance!
Monica S
Dallas, TX

 

My parents brought me here in 1999 when I was 6. We weren't able to apply for residency because of 9/11 changing those laws up. Now I'm 17 and I'm driving illegally just like my parents. We've always paid taxes. And were never on welfare. We rent a 3 bedroom house and all these people on forums just call immigrants freeloaders and stuff when we never received anything from anyone. I want to get my license. We even have insurance! And until recently college in some of the schools I have been working my butt off to attend seem completely impossible. It all just sucks. All these law. that prevent good people with no felonies that contribute to society from starting a normal life here without having to worry about being deported.
Isaac
California

 

My brother and I were born in Romania. We were adopted at about three months old by an American father and mother who were born in New York and Pennsylvania. Somewhere down the road our adoption was messed up and it says we are not U.S. citizens. My parents are now divorced half of our paperwork is gone our SS # says we are not eligible to work in the U.S., We've tried everything possible with USCIS. We are now 20 almost 21 graduated from HS and no job, no license, and can't go to college! Our mom is also 63 and disabled!
Patrick Gummo
Willow Springs, MO

 

My parents immigrated here when I was about 3 months old and my brother (1 year older). They trusted a relative to handle our visa renewals since my parents still hadn't learned the language, but a personal fallout lead to the relative who was left in charge to neglect our visa renewals. My parents still had no idea that our renewals were never sent and since they didn't know how immigration worked here assumed our relative handled it. Turns out that never happened. So here I am today, jobless and without an education. I found out when I was 10 and have pretty much been stressed about my future since because although I'm ethnically Korean, culturally I'm American through and through. I don't know any other land than the US.
Mike Kim
Cherry Hill, NJ

 

I came to the united states when I was 16 years old. I came on a visitor’s visa. I entered the country legally and everything. My family had already been here, my aunts and cousins, they had their green cards already, one of my aunts was supposed to adopt me in order for me to obtain my green card but then family can act weird sometimes. She never got to do it. I didn't know any better at the time. I started realizing that I needed papers in high school right before I graduated. Luckily for me, I got accepted to a catholic college. It was a non-profit, not very expensive. So I paid out of my pocket, and I had scholarships and loans. Unfortunately for me, the college got shut down because of financial problems. Now I am stuck. I can’t work, I can’t go to school, my life is just wasting. I want to go back to school and be independent. The United States immigration team should help us, help smart immigrants who just want to have a normal life and a better education.
Mary
Decatur GA

 

I was born in the United States. I have sister that is one year younger than me. Me and my sister are citizens and we were both raised by my dad, because my mom divorced him. My dad had been living here for 19 years and had a good job. He was a hard worker and got employee of the month and employee of the year. He raised me well and we had a pretty good life until the year of 2008. I don't really understand about the immigration rules, but somehow the court took his job away and told him he can't work. A year later they gave him a house arrest and checked on him every week. They did this for about 3 years and he had to live in his brothers house with no money. Instead of telling him that he will get deported, they told him that he could possibly get a green card. They gave this hope to him for about 3 years, and my dad's brother been helping him pay for the lawyer so he is able to stay here. 3 years later he ended up getting deported anyway. He is about to be deported next week. I pray to God everyday and hoping that there will be another way he can stay here. If he leaves this country, my dreams of going to college and having a successful career is over. I have no one to support me. The messed up part is that they knew he had two kids living with him, but they didn't care if we were stranded by ourselves. My dad did nothing wrong in this country, but work hard and help others.
Michael Rantung
San Francisco, California

 

When I was 1 year old my mother strapped me across her chest in one of those baby carrier devices and started out for the United States. She carried a backpack filled with baby necessities, a pair of jeans, money and food. Along with the others, she hiked her way through Guatemala's mountains and through Mexico. Others told her I would die, to leave me behind, and that we would both die for her foolishness, for if grown men die on the journey what odds does a baby hold. It goes without saying that my mother and I survived and made it into Texas, where my father picked us up and brought us to RI. It’s worth noting that I was actually born in the US and therefore a citizen and my father who had arrived to the US long before meeting my mother had made himself papers. However, because my mother was not legal and I was being breast fed, she had no choice but to cross with me or leave me behind in Guatemala. This past May 2011, I graduated from one of the best private colleges in the nation and starting this fall I continue my studies to become a nurse practitioner. My father owns his own business and my mother is stay at home wife. We have lived an honest law abiding life. So to everyone who says that delinquents, trouble makers, drug dealers, and burdens to the state are the type of people who cross the border, remember this: housewives, laborers, hard workers, dreamers, believers, optimists, and America's future doctors, scientists, psychologists, etc also take the journey. America, we benefit from you just as much as you will benefit from us.
Stephanie
Providence, RI

 

I come from a family of immigrants. My mom and dad were granted amnesty back in the 80s. I am a U.S.  Citizen and I am currently away from my wife. She wasn't granted a waiver (1-601) at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez. I am 23 years old and my wife is 22. I am a student and I am scheduled to graduate as a Registered Nurse (RN) on December 2012. We have no kids. We decided to wait till my wife's legal status was fixed and till I was out of school and working as an RN. But nothing went according to plan and now my wife has to wait ten years to be eligible for a visa and I have to finish my schooling without her support. It’s so hard to be told to wait ten years because it really is a long time to be away from your spouse. I want to start a family as soon as I graduate and I want to live every moment by their side. I could live in Mexico but that’s just not practical in any way because I want to give my children a good environment, good education, good healthcare. They will be left out of the many opportunities that can be fulfilled here in the U.S. Mexico is not a safe place for anybody to live in. My wife knows English and she is so accustomed to living here in the U.S. She was brought here by her parent when she was little. I pray for the immigration system to be fixed so no more families can suffer the pain of being apart from loved ones. "I don’t believe the United States of America should be in the business of separating families" - Barak Obama. I pray for our government to come to a consensus in reforming our immigration system. This cannot go on any further.
Jacob Rios
Tucson, AZ

 

I came to the U.S. when I was 4 from AGS, MX.  I will never forget that day. I remember missing my dad so much I can't even explain the feeling I got when he picked us up from Albuquerque, NM. I held on to his hand the whole way to back to Denver and I remember telling him it felt like a dream. I grew up knowing i was Mexican but never feeling different than others at school. As far as I knew Colorado was my home. Reality didn't hit me till about 2 or 3 years ago when I realized I wouldn’t be able to go to college, get drivers license, get a job, pretty much everything I'd always looked forward to. Right now I'm wondering if I have a future in this country. I'm a mom now. My daughter is 2 and everything is falling apart. All I want is to go to school and give my daughter the life she deserves! I don't even care about not receiving In-State tuition. I just want to know that getting education will also mean that I can work afterwards...I'll figure out tuition when I get a JOB!!
Denise
Denver CO

 

I came to this country when I was 4 years old. My parents brought me and my two brothers here illegally and after eight years in this country we all became legal thanks to the amnesty law in the 80's. I have since became a US citizen. I married a man who is not legal and has been here since he was 12. But because his parents did not apply for him when they could have made him legal he now has to live in the shadows. I tried to make him legal but immigration says he has a ten year ban for entering the US illegally even if he was only 12. We have an 11 year old daughter and if he goes to Mexico for 10 years he won't see her for a long time. She needs him now in her adolescence not when she is grown up. Why do kids have to pay for parents mistakes? I pray every day that these dumb laws change so we don't have to live in fear that my husband will get separated from us . He is a good man provides for his family and never committed any crime but I guess that does not matter!
Rosa
Gainesville GA

 

My father brought me here when I was 16 years of age. I came with student visa. He filed for my papers and I received a social security card and a working permit. I studied 3 years in high school and obtained a high school diploma. After high school I went to study certified nursing assistant in a capital community college. Somewhere along the line my dad stop filing for my green card because my stepmom brain wash him about me. Now I am married with two kids and I still haven't gotten my green card not even a renewed work permit and I have responsibilities.
Sadia
New York Bronx

 

O my god I feel so bad. I have to go live in Mexico with my 5 children and we were all born in the US. My husband is losing is green card and I was told there is nothing I could do to stop it. O my god I feel I’m dead alive. They need their dad I have no job and about to be homeless. I have to go live with his mom till he finishes his prison time and wait till he get deported. Please if you have a green card do not break the law and become a US citizen.
Maribel
Phoenix

 

I was brought to the USA when I was 9. I am now 21. It’s very difficult to explain how exhausting it is to live here. From my whole family, I am the one who adjusted to life here the best. I went to school graduated, and never really got in any trouble, After graduating I started volunteering in an ambulance corporation and I loved it. Unfortunately when I was offered the chance to get certified and go to college FOR FREE I was denied, because I am an ILLEGAL ALIEN!!! Sounds cruel and it is. I put my own life at risk to save others, for free and for fun... I wish we could have the chance to really be "AMERICAN" even tho I feel like I am. I do not know how to be any different from anyone that was born here. Hope things get better and I have faith they will!
Lorena P
Passaic, NJ

 

I was brought to the USA at age of 10. I attended 5th grade till 12th grade and some college. I felt happy I was in a good place, good house, good school, good community. Now I'm 24 years old  and I know everything was just a lie. I soon realized I was living in a country that I couldn't call mine. I'm living in the shadow that doesn't seem to lighten up. Where is "Hope"? where is "FREEDOM"? Where is the so called "American dream?" Why did I deserve this? I did not choose to be here. Why must I pay for what I did not do? ..I feel like a man with no race, with no country, with no home.
Uriel - San Jose, CA

 

---

 

 

READ MORE STORIES

---