Lorena
Mexico
Farm Worker
I came to the US in 2002 from Michoacán Mexico.
I lived in a very, very small ranch, village. There was no work. There was absolutely no way I could earn any income. And then my husband came here and I didn’t want to stay there by myself. I followed him later, by myself, leaving my two children behind. I felt really bad and sad because I missed my kids.
I was told that it was really easy to come to the US across the border, but it was very, very difficult.
I was caught several times coming across the border and I had to keep trying. One time I spent the whole night in the water to try to get through. The border patrol grabbed me and I was dirty and my hair was full of dirt. It was a horrible night. And they returned me again.
It took me four or five times to make it across. I lost my shoes; my pants were ripped trying to get across the fence. I had no money for food and I was really hungry. After one month, I was able to get across. After three years I brought my kids, through Mexicali.
It was very difficult to be without my children. The kids weren’t treated very well. The person who was in charge didn’t treat them very well and she was very sad. They’re fine now. They do landscaping and farm work.
We feel like we’re here to work and what the president is doing is really sad, making us look like bad people because we just want to work and give our kids good education and a good life. In Mexico it’s really difficult to do that, especially when you’re coming from the rural areas. I didn’t expect to come here and be rich, I just wanted to have a livelihood and food on my plate and contribute. Sometimes it is very cold, sometimes very hot and it’s a hard job. I just want to continue to work and have a roof over my head and security.
I I had to go back, I wouldn’t know what I would be doing. There’s nothing left for me in Mexico. All my life is here now. Just to think that the president might separate me from my kids gives me so much pain. My kids sometimes cry and say, “Are we going to be separated? What if you don’t come home mom, what are we going to do?” There is no back-up plan. It’s hard to get out. You’re always afraid somebody around the corner is going to nab you, but you have to get out to work.