1 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: My family and I moved from Mexico to the Borough 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: of Queens in New York City over twenty years ago. 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: The Vein of Queens is a seven train which runs 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: overhead on Roosevelt Avenue twenty four to seven, and you 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: can hear it from inside my family's house. One night 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: in March, at home, my mother is cooking on the 7 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: stove and I'm putting tortillas in a microwave. That's my 8 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: mom slapping the tortillas. They kind of look like whoopy cushions. 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: Tortilla whoopee cushions? Has anyone made that? I crack myself up. 10 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: Just past midnight, my uncle walks in the door home 11 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: from work. This is the time he usually comes home. 12 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: How's it going. My uncle and mother are the only 13 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: older relatives I have in the city of eight point 14 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: six million people. My uncle has been working as an 15 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: undocumented immigrant in this country for twenty three years. After 16 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: my parents separated, my uncle became the main breadwinner in 17 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: my family. He's short, with salt and pepper, curly hair. 18 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: And he hunches. 19 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: I think it's because of having to stand all day 20 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: at work. After dinner, my uncle and I sit down 21 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: in front of the TV. It is past one am 22 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: and his eyes are bloodshot. He doesn't seem happy that 23 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: I have my recorder. He does not make eye contact 24 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: as he answers my questions. Gestspienda. I asked my uncle 25 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: what he was watching, Yes, it but okay programas taspiendo. 26 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: They are watching a soap opera. In all our years 27 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: of living together, we have never spoken openly about our 28 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: hardships as an immigrant family. But I think it's about 29 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,239 Speaker 1: time that we do. 30 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 3: From Futuro Media, it's Latino Usa. I'm Maria Josa. Today, 31 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 3: a young woman who's undocumented confronts her family with some 32 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 3: difficult questions. 33 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 4: We're going to. 34 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 3: Bring you an episode from our Fault. It's actually one 35 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 3: of our favorites, and it's worth mentioning that this episode 36 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 3: was originally aired before pandemic times and this episode got 37 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: a lot of response from you the listener. At the 38 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 3: beginning of this story, we heard from Yesica Balda. Yesika's 39 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 3: mother and her uncle are undocumented and they've lived together 40 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 3: since their arrival from Mexico in nineteen ninety six. There 41 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 3: are eleven million undocumented people in this country, more or 42 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 3: less sixty six percent of them are long term residents 43 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 3: and have been in the country for more than ten years. 44 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 3: Working as an older undocumented immigrant can mean working without 45 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: paid time off, holidays, healthcare, or even minimum wage. There's 46 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: no retirement for older undocumented workers. There's no savings plans, 47 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: no parachutes for them. Yeska grew up with her family 48 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: in Queens, but has since moved out. She's gone to college, 49 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 3: and she's become a writer. With a little distance, She's 50 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 3: now become aware of how little her family has changed 51 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: and how she feels like they're stuck. For this story, 52 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 3: Yessica asked her family some really tough questions about their decisions, 53 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 3: their lives in the United States, and why it seemed 54 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 3: like they hadn't made much progress on their dreams and 55 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 3: in their lives. We're going to get back to the 56 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 3: story soon, but first I have Yessica here with me 57 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 3: and we're talking in our mutual home studios. 58 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 4: Yessica, how are you doing great? 59 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: How are you you know? 60 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 3: I'm really happy to be alive. It's been a really 61 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 3: challenging year. I'm a survivor of COVID, so I'm very 62 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 3: happy to be alive. How about you. 63 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: I'm glad that I was able to get through the 64 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: year without many of the difficulties I understand others faced 65 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: with the loss of family members employment. 66 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: So I'm wondering, Yessica, about how you about what happened 67 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 3: after your peace ran and if we can kind of 68 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 3: talk about it, because I thought you were so incredibly honest, 69 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 3: and that's what I loved about your story. But I 70 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 3: think sometimes people have a hard time hearing that, and 71 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 3: you know, some people thought you were being just a 72 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: little bit too tough on your mother and on your uncle. 73 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 3: I'm wondering what you've felt about that. 74 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: Well, Uh, it's first of all, it's coming from a 75 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: place of love. And I have seen all their struggles 76 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: throughout these years and what they've gone through. I've seen 77 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: my parents tired. I've seen them go through different situations 78 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: that were frightening, just being undocumented, the anxieties, the mental 79 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: health issues of being minorities and this kind and not 80 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: speaking English. I think that going through so many struggles 81 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: and being here and having access to resources that we 82 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: would not have in our own home country, I just 83 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: wanted to encourage them to strive for more and to 84 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: do better. 85 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 3: I was thinking about the fact that you know, when 86 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 3: you are raised by immigrant parents like I was, I 87 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 3: remember saying like, oh, you're not the Nios Nivoto. You know, 88 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: I didn't have a voice or a vote as to 89 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 3: whether or not we came to this country. And you know, 90 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 3: we get this feeling like our parents are always telling 91 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 3: us no, what we came to do this for you? 92 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 3: And that means that our relationships between us and our 93 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 3: parents can be complicated because there's a lot more to 94 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 3: process than just what it can already be challenging in 95 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 3: terms of a mother daughter relationship or a you know, 96 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: an uncle relationship and ship. And I'm wondering how you 97 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 3: process that. 98 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: I love them very much. My parents separated eight years ago, 99 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: so my mother was placed in a precarious situation because 100 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: I have four other siblings, and also I'm old enough 101 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: to take care of myself and to live on my own. 102 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: My other siblings weren't, so my uncle took over the 103 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: relationship of I guess a parental role to financially help out. 104 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: Being undocumented, they earn lower wages, so of course it 105 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: was this whole panic of how we were going to 106 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: get through, and I was still in college. It was 107 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: difficult and then at the same time of getting myself through, 108 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: I also feel this responsibility of having to look at 109 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: for them and having to advise them, and just being 110 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: an immigrant family. I understand that it's not really a 111 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: culture shock, a language shock, but also cultural norms and 112 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: even to more practical things such as finances that I'm 113 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: learning now as I have friends that are getting married 114 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: and buying homes and having kids, just so many things 115 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: that I would not have known otherwise without their help 116 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: that I'm trying to share with my own family so 117 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: we can move forward and get better. 118 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 3: But there is this thing right that as immigrants, we 119 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: have these particular family dynamics that in some ways are 120 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 3: just a little bit more complicated because there's the questions 121 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 3: of like, well, why are we in this country, why 122 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 3: did you come here? What's really happening. I mean, I 123 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 3: certainly feel that way. I'm assuming you feel that way too. 124 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: Yes, I definitely did not have a say or a 125 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: choice in coming here. It took me many years to 126 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: get used to being in this country. My family brought 127 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: me here when I was five, and I remember for 128 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: the first few years, I definitely cried a lot, and 129 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: I miss my grandparents. I just I don't resent or 130 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: regret being here, but it is definitely very challenging to 131 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: get used to this culture. And even now, I still 132 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: don't feel American. I still think of myself that's Mexican. 133 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 5: Despite units country for twenty five years now, it just 134 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 5: it's something that doesn't go away. 135 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for that, Yesika, And we're going 136 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 3: to check back in with you at the end of 137 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 3: the episode for another update. But next, Yesika questions her 138 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: family as she worries about their future in this country. 139 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 4: Stay with us, yes Hey, we're back. 140 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 3: And before the break, we had just checked in with 141 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 3: Yessica Balderrama about her family in Queens, New York. Both 142 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 3: her mother and uncle are undocumented, and Yessica is feeling 143 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 3: like they haven't made much progress since they arrived in 144 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 3: the United States. We're gonna let Yesigat tell the rest 145 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 3: of this story now. 146 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: My uncle works twelve to fourteen hours a day, six 147 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: days a week, for less than minimum wage per hour. 148 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: He cooks pizza's, pastas and makes salads. For twenty one years, 149 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: he worked for the sain Sicilian family. He learned Italian 150 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: to communicate with him, which means he's better at Italian 151 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: than English. 152 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 6: Totovene capiche Amo Cottello's Couchillo. 153 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: Three years ago, they sold the pizzeria after twenty years 154 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: of working together. They stopped by the pizzeria during Christmas, 155 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: a day my uncle still works, to say goodbye. 156 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 6: No madeo ninguneste beneficio con no mam pasalon de gracia. 157 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: He said. After they left, all they said was thank you. 158 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: They didn't say anything else, No Christmas, bonus, no benefits. 159 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 6: Yea navi daniel, no media or nada. 160 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: Now that there are new owners, I wanted to know 161 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: if they were going to raise his salary to at 162 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: least minimum wage. When he first told me how much 163 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,719 Speaker 1: he earned years ago, only nine dollars per hour, I 164 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: remember cringing. The minimum wage in New York City is 165 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: thirteen fifty. My uncle makes nearly twenty thousand dollars last 166 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: a year than he would if he was paid minimum wage. 167 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: I asked him when he was going to ask for 168 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: a raise. He said he had to say something because 169 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 1: it wasn't there that he was working twelve to thirteen 170 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 1: hours with a low salary. He says he's going to ask, 171 00:12:53,640 --> 00:13:04,079 Speaker 1: but I'm not sure I believe him. My uncle has 172 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: a lot of sayings. One of his favorites is about 173 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: the dog with two tortas two sandwiches. This is how 174 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: the story goes. 175 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 6: El perro de lasos tortas bacontento iva mirando. 176 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: There's a dog with a sandwich in his mouth. He's happy, 177 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: and he's crossing a lake. He sees the sandwich reflected 178 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,559 Speaker 1: from the surface of the lake, and he wants that sandwich, 179 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,679 Speaker 1: so to reach for the sandwich that's being reflected back 180 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: at him. He lets go of his sandwich, so in 181 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: the end the dog is lost with no sandwiches. The 182 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: moral of the story is, do not be greedy, don't 183 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 1: let go of what you have to reach for what 184 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: you don't. But when I think of my uncle's situation, 185 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: he barely has anything to hold onto in the first place. 186 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: He complains about. 187 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 2: Not even having a lunch break com chances quandoss risetto. 188 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: I asked my uncle how he feels when he's stressed. 189 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: What does he worry about, and he said he got 190 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: stressed out from all the orders and how he barely 191 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: has enough time to prepare them. People keep ordering and 192 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: ordering Naorna. In the past few years, the hours he 193 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: works have increased, His hair is getting grayer and the 194 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: lines around his eyes are deeper. It pains me to 195 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: see him so tired. My sister is the only other 196 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: person who understands her family situation. She still lives at 197 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: her house in Queens and I've visited her in her 198 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: old bedroom to talk about it. I'm here, I'm talking 199 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: to my younger sister. My sister is really quiet with strangers, 200 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: but with me, she jokes around. 201 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 2: How are you today? 202 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 7: I'm fine. 203 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: My sister and I are both in her twenties and 204 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: she's one of my best friends. We both have jobs, partners, 205 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: and future plans as we get older and develop our 206 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: own individual lives. We worry often about the well being 207 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: and future of her mother and uncle. My sister helps 208 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: out financially already, and I feel like my younger sister 209 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: and I are their retirement plan. Recently, the feeling that 210 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: they'll be dependent on us has been increasing, but honestly, 211 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: it's been like that for over twenty years. Growing up 212 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: translating for our parents it was always a priority. My 213 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: mother and uncle do not speak English fluently. Do you 214 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: think that maybe they should learn English, or should have 215 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: learned English by now? 216 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 7: Of course they should have learned English. That way, they 217 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 7: have better communication skills with other people that speak English, 218 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 7: and they don't get afraid, especially mom. 219 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: What is the earliest memory you have of translating for mom? 220 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 8: I think when I was in elementary school, my teacher said, 221 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 8: I'm good, well, Mom, I had did all my stuff 222 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 8: on time. 223 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 7: I'm joking. 224 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: I'm joking no, but. 225 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 7: Seriously it is something like that though, like going to school, 226 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 7: me translating for her what some teachers say they don't 227 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 7: want the kids translating for their parents if you're in 228 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 7: elementary school, so we will usually just have to wait 229 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 7: in the background for a translator to come help Mom. 230 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 2: And when was the last time you try from home? Recently? 231 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 2: Now in present day? 232 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 7: Maybe like two weeks ago? Like they show her the 233 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 7: way how to get from like Queens to Manhattan. 234 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: Growing up, the importance of education was drilled into my 235 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: cousins and I by her grandmother, who was a school teacher. 236 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: Applying to college as an indocumented student was hell. A 237 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: lot of schools wouldn't accept me because I didn't have 238 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 1: a Social Security number and there was no financial aid whatsoever. 239 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: But then I got dockground twenty twelve, and my life changed. 240 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: I could apply to internships and get paid legally for work. 241 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: I feel guilty for having opportunities my parents and relatives didn't. 242 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: A few months after I talked to my uncle about 243 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: getting a pay raise, I decided to pay him a 244 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: visit at his workplace, the pizzeria, for a slice of 245 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: pepperoni pizza. My uncle and his coworkers listen to Ranchera 246 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: music from speakers. As a cook, my uncle spends at 247 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: least seventy two hours a week in a fifteen feet 248 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: by twenty feet kitchen. There is no air conditioning and 249 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: bits of sweat drip off his face onto his yellow 250 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: and apron He works six days a week except Mondays, 251 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: on one of his rare days off, my uncle plays 252 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: music we can hear throughout the apartment. He plays Los 253 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: Gane Tijuana, Visana Fernandez and Los Angeles a Soules. Ever 254 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: since I can remember, there was always music playing at home, 255 00:18:49,000 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: Yotescuccatto scucatto musicas this is the only time during the 256 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: week when I see him relaxed and happy. Otherwise he's reserved, serious. 257 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: But my mother remembers him differently. In Mexico, when my 258 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: uncle was little. He would help my grandparents whenever they 259 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: needed help. During his free time, he played soccer and 260 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: went to the moviesball. She described them as a normal 261 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: child When my mother and my uncle are two out 262 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: of five brothers and sisters, they have always been the 263 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: closest siblings. Like my uncle, my mother is small too. 264 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: Her hair is almost all white, so she often dyes it. 265 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: You can still see the grays and whites from the 266 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: roots because hair keeps growing. You can't hide that. 267 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 9: Cameos. 268 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: My uncle tells me, your life was easier in Mexico, Sally. 269 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 6: Miss. 270 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 2: He said he. 271 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: Would go out with his friends after work. He would 272 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: have a few beers, which he says stimulated his mind. 273 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: I asked him why he stopped doing that when we 274 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: moved here. He said, it's different here. We work longer hours. 275 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 4: Here. 276 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: We are talking in late summer. It's been months since 277 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: I first started asking him questions, and it seems like 278 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: he's finally opening up a bit. 279 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 7: He me. 280 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: I asked him about the faint white scar between his 281 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 1: lower lip and chin. He's never told me about it 282 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: before Toro, he says. On the family farm, there was 283 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: a bowl. When it was taken for slaughter. The ball 284 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: lashed out and my uncle was hit. He lost his 285 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 1: memory for about twelve hours. 286 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 6: Del To de la communit and. 287 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: Perilla Memorial, Portos, he lost his memory for about twelve hours. 288 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 6: Mamayo rava me papa. 289 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: He said his mother is crying and his father would 290 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: say his name, but he didn't know who he was. 291 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 6: Mamike. 292 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: He looked up at them with empty open eyes. 293 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 6: I don't knowoas, but he didn't give up. 294 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: He kept fighting on. I see a parallel between the 295 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: story and how he endors his present situation. I can 296 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: tell he sees himself as resilient, that he sees himself 297 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 1: as someone who can endure without complaint. But there's a 298 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: difference between being strong and being abused. Lately, my uncle 299 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: seems to be running out of steam. For the last 300 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: couple of months, I have been talking to my family 301 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: about why they haven't been able to move forward. My 302 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 1: uncle works a lesser minimum which job he hates, and 303 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 1: my mother still hasn't learned English after decades of being here. 304 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: Even though I have also faced challenges in this country 305 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: being undocumented, I feel I have much more optimism. Maybe 306 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: it's because I have daka and some certain deal about 307 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: my future. At the same time, I know other undocumented 308 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: parents who haven't been afraid to explore their options. My 309 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: friend Gaby said Vantez is in my writing group. Her mother, Maria, 310 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: has been undocumented for over twenty years, just like my 311 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: mother and uncle. I met up with her at Bryant Park. 312 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 10: Torque Espanol parcae are Vis Espanol or in Qualand's Santa 313 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 10: Masco Moda span and espanan oh Okay. 314 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: In Mexico, Maria was a nurse and an administrator. 315 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 7: Yami pais soy Informera administradorata security. 316 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 9: Studio. 317 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: Because she doesn't have a Social Security number, she can't 318 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: work using their degrees. She got in Mexico a housekeeper 319 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 1: and in the US she works as a housekeeper. She 320 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: says her first employers didn't treat her, while the ones 321 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: even refused to give her water, so she left the job. 322 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: That doesn't happen anymore. She says being able to speak 323 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: English has helped her stand up for herself. 324 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 9: If and then Loka Medicia. 325 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: She has a lot more pride in her work and 326 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: she's been able to find lots of opportunities Esta import 327 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: She likes being in this country because of all the 328 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: opportunities there are, and believes everyone can improve themselves. 329 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 2: Okay, Croquezstoto, which is gratias. 330 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: Maria's experience working in this country was not as difficult 331 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: as my mother's and uncles. While working, she was also 332 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 1: learning English and even completed a ged and she found 333 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: ways to be asertive and have control. Maria doesn't seem 334 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: defined by her job. This is something my uncle and 335 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: mother have trouble doing. My uncle works a lot, and 336 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: he's defined by his job in a way that feels dehumanizing. 337 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: After talking to Maria, I sit down with my mom 338 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 1: in the living room. She's watching the news. I want 339 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: to get to the bottom of why my mom and 340 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: uncle haven't changed. I asked them how they feel about 341 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: speaking English and why they haven't ever really learned it. 342 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:32,400 Speaker 1: At the end, in English or English, no, no stay comfundida, 343 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: I asked my mother and uncle if they spoke English 344 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: or if they understood it. I was confused. Oh my god, no, 345 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 1: it's video. My mother joked, you are confused. Sabin Oh no, 346 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 1: Sabin English. 347 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 9: Plimento nin. 348 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: I asked, how come you two never learned it? We've 349 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: been here for so long. My mother responded, it's not 350 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,479 Speaker 1: that we don't understand it. We understand it a little bit, 351 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:33,360 Speaker 1: just not perfectly. But yep, timbo josey, I'm being pushier 352 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: than I normally would be in this conversation. I don't 353 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: want to let the topic drop. I asked them why 354 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: they didn't go back to school and anything. It's got awkward. 355 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 1: My mother opened her mouth wide and she leaned back 356 00:26:49,960 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: in surprise. Okay, the massive stepka mondando. My mother said, 357 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: how was I supposed to return to school? 358 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 10: I personal kid agress and I lascolance squadentes and so 359 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 10: seeing quintas, I responded, there are people that go to 360 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 10: school in their forties or in their fifties. 361 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,400 Speaker 9: You callsel squilla. 362 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: My my mother said she couldn't go back to school 363 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: because she had me. Something else that has always bothered 364 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 1: me is they don't ever talk about the future. I 365 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: have always preferred to plan ahead. I even made a 366 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: ten year plan, and I completed all of my goals. 367 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: I finished college, graduated with honors, and started learning a 368 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: fourth language. 369 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: I asked them why they don't plan betro porquno planan. 370 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 9: Cap horcon come on by. 371 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: They insist on not planning because they do not want 372 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: to be disappointed in case things don't go as planned. Okay, 373 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: but I want to know what they are working towards. 374 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 1: Ye I said, so much time has passed. 375 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 9: It's some splints, keep says a studien case. 376 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: They want to maybe start a business or buy a house. 377 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: They want us to go to school. She said, those 378 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: are their plans. I've never heard my mother mention these 379 00:28:54,760 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: goals before. After speaking to them, I am surprised to 380 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: learn they do have major goals they wanted to accomplish. 381 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: I realized how little I knew about their life experiences 382 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: in Mexico. I couldn't help but feel responsible for how 383 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: unhappy they felt. After all, they moved here so that 384 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: my siblings and I could have a better life. But 385 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: after talking to my sister, she thinks them too negative, 386 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: that things for my family are better than I make 387 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: them out to be. 388 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 2: Have you ever talked about and uncle about this, Well? 389 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 9: I have. 390 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 7: I just recently got into a stable job, so I 391 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 7: would say that now I have spoken to them more 392 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 7: about plans in the future. We're not one hundred percent 393 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 7: short of what we're doing, But all I know is 394 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 7: that mom and uncle are. I guess I already fed 395 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 7: up with the way they've been living, so it won't 396 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 7: last long till like they changed something ab about it. 397 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 7: They're still like discussing that between them personally. 398 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 1: At the end of the summer, four months after I 399 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 1: first talked to him about it, I asked my uncle 400 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: again if he had asked for a raise. We were 401 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: sitting down in our family living room after dinner. 402 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 4: And it was uh. 403 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 2: Subirtu saladio. 404 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 1: He said they raised it. 405 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 2: Guanto taxes. 406 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: I asked them by how much and what would it 407 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 1: be after taxesdoo sofiicient. He said he doesn't know yet, 408 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: but they did raise it, and he wouldn't tell me 409 00:30:59,040 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: by how much. 410 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 2: Almno minimo get Santa Grando. 411 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: I asked him if now he at least makes minimum wage. 412 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 6: No, it's in cassilo Minimo, Yes, Lomino. 413 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: He said, it's almost a minimum wage. After two decades, 414 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: my uncle is no longer afraid to ask for rays. 415 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: It makes me feel relieved, I hope, he asked, until 416 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: he is paid minimum wage at least. 417 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 2: I spent that of the trabajaro menus. 418 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 6: Tempo roa held InKo mistoyak pizzomeno. 419 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 1: I asked him if he had thought of working last hours. 420 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: He said he would like to be able to work 421 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: less hours, but he is afraid he might not make enough. 422 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 1: He's afraid he might make even less if he goes 423 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: to another place, he said. My uncle says he doesn't 424 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: want to retire here. He said he wants to leave 425 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: because he is at an age where he is ready 426 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: to leave. He said he's tired of working. He hasn't 427 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 1: had vacation since two thousand and one. 428 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 6: Yes, you're not, does miloon. 429 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 9: Disguns. 430 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: It's been work and work all this time. Working long 431 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: hours for little pay is not a way to live life. 432 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: My uncle often repeats a saying whenever one of us 433 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: makes a mistake each other camaron shrimp who falls asleep 434 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: is taken by the current. One is quote unquote taken 435 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: by the current when one is not paying attention. It 436 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: is a Mexican saying meant to encourage awareness of one's 437 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: daily actions in life persona. He compared it to be 438 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,440 Speaker 1: on an employee. He said, it's like being careful to 439 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: not make a mistake at work and get fired. Moo 440 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 1: moi de spirit, he says, in life, you have to 441 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: be very awake. I think we are a family of 442 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 1: Camaronas trying to stay afloat in the American currents. For now, 443 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: these Camaronas will keep swimming with La Coriente. 444 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 3: Coming up on Latino USA, we check back in with Yessica, 445 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 3: who brings us an update on how our family is 446 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 3: coped with a very difficult year. Stay with us, not yes, hey, 447 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 3: we're back, and Jessica vald rams with me again. She's 448 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 3: going to give us an update on how she and 449 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 3: her family have been doing. And of course a lot 450 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 3: of things have happened since our story originally aired in 451 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 3: November of twenty nineteen. All right, so yes, he got 452 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 3: you know. There are two big things that I want 453 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 3: to talk to you about and things that have happened 454 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 3: in this time since we first heard this piece. So 455 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 3: one of them obviously is COVID and the other one 456 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 3: is DACA. So how has your family coped with COVID 457 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 3: during these times? 458 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: At the beginning, my entire family unfortunately got sick with COVID. 459 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:46,719 Speaker 1: My uncle works at a pizzeria and he got sick 460 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the pandemic, maybe one or two 461 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:55,960 Speaker 1: weeks after the closings. My sister works at a grocery store, 462 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 1: a chain grocery store in Midtown. She also came down 463 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: with COVID. They had symptimes for about two weeks. They 464 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 1: took off from work. Unfortunately, just because of our living situation, 465 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:12,120 Speaker 1: my mother and my siblings a little bit younger than me, 466 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 1: also contracted COVID. Everyone got better within two weeks. Fortunately, 467 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 1: they were afraid to seek treatment or go to a hospital, 468 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: not just because they were the hospitals were overflowing with 469 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: people and there were lines around the block to get in, 470 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 1: but also because of their undocumented status. 471 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:40,320 Speaker 3: So, in other words, twenty twenty was a pretty scary 472 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:42,320 Speaker 3: year for you and your family. 473 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 1: Yes, I was worried that I was going to lose 474 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: my relatives. And then on top of that, they couldn't 475 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 1: stop going to work. And my uncle got two weeks 476 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 1: off from work, but he went back to work as 477 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:59,399 Speaker 1: soon as he felt better, within ten days. And that's 478 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: probably the longest he's ever taken off from work. 479 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:06,720 Speaker 3: Wow, So what is your uncle's situation now in terms 480 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 3: of his job and his salary and his security. 481 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 1: He got new employers last year. The pizzerio was sold 482 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: and now it's under new management. He finally gets paid 483 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:24,359 Speaker 1: minimum wage, which is a starting point, but still does 484 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: not match his years of experience. He has been cooking 485 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 1: and making Italian food for twenty years. Now. I mean, 486 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: it's it's sad, but this is a reality for people 487 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,840 Speaker 1: that have to work off the books and make a living. 488 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 4: So what is minimum wage that he's getting now? 489 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,080 Speaker 11: Minimum wage is fifteen dollars and of course this is 490 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 11: before taxes, so after taxes it's pretty much, i mean, 491 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 11: kind of what he was earning before, but now it's 492 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 11: on paper. 493 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:05,360 Speaker 3: Well that kind of leads us to this part of 494 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 3: the story, which is your situation. So when we first 495 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 3: aired your story, DOCA was still up in the air 496 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 3: under President Trump's administration. So what is your situation now 497 00:38:15,719 --> 00:38:17,320 Speaker 3: in terms of your immigration status. 498 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:22,680 Speaker 1: I was already making plans just in case Trump was 499 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 1: re elected. I prepared for the worst. I was relieved 500 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:35,800 Speaker 1: that Trump did not get re elected, and my work permit, 501 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 1: as I'm sure the work permits of other DOCTA recipients, 502 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: was extended to another year, went back to score one. 503 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,359 Speaker 1: Although there was no progress, I'm glad that it wasn't 504 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:49,880 Speaker 1: taken away or there are no plans of having it 505 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 1: being taken away. So now I'm just waiting to see 506 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:59,080 Speaker 1: what the Biding administration is going to do in regards 507 00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: to DOCA, and I hope there is a pathway to citizenship. 508 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 1: For now, I'm just focusing on work and taking care 509 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:12,000 Speaker 1: of my family and doing the best that I can 510 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:13,800 Speaker 1: do regarding the circumstances. 511 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 3: So when you think about your situation here financially, the work, 512 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 3: your uncle, what about that is most upsetting for you? 513 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 1: As undocumented immigrants, there's this feeling that we have to hide, 514 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 1: we have to be visible from society, we have to 515 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:39,400 Speaker 1: be seen but not heard, and all of that comes 516 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 1: from the fear of deportation and knowing that we're vulnerable 517 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 1: and knowing that we are here illegally, and especially during 518 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,840 Speaker 1: the Trump administration, there is this overall sentiment in my 519 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 1: family that it was wrong to be here, or that 520 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,920 Speaker 1: we don't deserve to have the same rights as everyone 521 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:08,719 Speaker 1: else because of our status and our background. And the 522 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:15,239 Speaker 1: anger came from seeing that my relatives had internalized this, 523 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:21,240 Speaker 1: these feelings of questioning their worth and then that leading 524 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:27,240 Speaker 1: to them selling themselves short. It's not just a financial issue, 525 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:33,120 Speaker 1: but I think a mental health issue where undocumented immigrants 526 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:39,239 Speaker 1: feel sometimes a sense of hopelessness. Even as a DOCTA recipient, 527 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:44,840 Speaker 1: and before DACA, when I started working, I also sometimes 528 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:49,360 Speaker 1: had people try to take advantage of my situation. And 529 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:53,799 Speaker 1: I mean, but it's I think different because I had 530 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 1: agency where I was aware of what my rights were, 531 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:02,880 Speaker 1: and unlike unfortunately my relatives, I didn't have a language barrier. 532 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:08,279 Speaker 3: One of the things, Jessica that is great about being 533 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 3: raised by immigrant parents is like this extraordinary work ethic 534 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:16,960 Speaker 3: and kind of you know, belief in what's possible. But 535 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:20,800 Speaker 3: the other thing is that we also internalize some of 536 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:24,359 Speaker 3: the feelings of being the other, or of being less than. 537 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 3: And I'm wondering if you're thinking about the fact that 538 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:31,320 Speaker 3: you don't want to be that part of the immigrant experience, 539 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:34,879 Speaker 3: the part that walks around feeling like we're less than right. 540 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 1: So, I don't know, this is TMI. This feels like 541 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:43,799 Speaker 1: something I would say in therapy. But actually I did 542 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:47,440 Speaker 1: start attending therapy consistently maybe ten years ago, when I 543 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:52,520 Speaker 1: was in college, and it was I mean, without going 544 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:56,240 Speaker 1: into details, I also had a lot of childhood trauma 545 00:41:56,560 --> 00:42:01,120 Speaker 1: in addition to being a documented so one of the 546 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 1: things I had to confront and therapy was talking about 547 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:11,480 Speaker 1: things that I had been afraid to verbalize. And this 548 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:15,239 Speaker 1: was shortly before DOCCA came out, and it was my 549 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 1: first time talking about all these things was another person. 550 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 1: And one of those things was growing up undocumented and 551 00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:29,600 Speaker 1: having feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness and having no agency 552 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:33,560 Speaker 1: over my life. And this was just about a year 553 00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: before DOCCA came out, and I just feeling and wondering 554 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:42,040 Speaker 1: if any of the work that I was doing in 555 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:46,400 Speaker 1: this country was going to be worse than anything, especially 556 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:49,960 Speaker 1: after watching my own relative stay in the same jobs 557 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 1: for years and not going anywhere or earning more money 558 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:01,000 Speaker 1: and just in the same place. 559 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:01,480 Speaker 2: And it was. 560 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:06,759 Speaker 1: It was a great fear, and it was something that 561 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:10,520 Speaker 1: I had to overcome. Also imposter syndrome and being in 562 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:15,480 Speaker 1: all these offices for I worked with people from very 563 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:19,960 Speaker 1: different backgrounds and telling myself it's okay for me to 564 00:43:20,080 --> 00:43:24,360 Speaker 1: be here even if I came from such a different background. 565 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:28,880 Speaker 3: I just want to say thank you so much Jessica 566 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:31,880 Speaker 3: for joining us today and for all of your reporting 567 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:35,080 Speaker 3: and for opening yourself up to tell this story. 568 00:43:35,320 --> 00:43:36,080 Speaker 4: We appreciate it. 569 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:58,800 Speaker 3: This episode was produced by Jessica Arama and Antonia Serehidro 570 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:02,799 Speaker 3: with help from me CS. It was edited by Sophia Palisaka. 571 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:07,279 Speaker 3: The Latino USA team includes Andrea Lopez Cruzado, Marta Martinez, 572 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:13,800 Speaker 3: Mike Sargent, Julieta Martinelli, Victoria Estrada, Gini montalbo Alejandra salasad Rinaldo, 573 00:44:13,880 --> 00:44:17,320 Speaker 3: Leanoz Junior and Julia Rocha, with help from Raoul Berez. 574 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:20,879 Speaker 3: Our engineers are Stephanie Lebaud, Julia Caruso and Liah Shaw. 575 00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:24,080 Speaker 3: Our digital editor is Luis Luna. Our New York Women's 576 00:44:24,120 --> 00:44:28,040 Speaker 3: Foundation Ignite fellow is Mari es Kinka. Our intern is 577 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 3: Oscarde Leon. Our theme music was composed by Sane Renos. 578 00:44:32,440 --> 00:44:34,280 Speaker 3: If you like the music you heard on this episode, 579 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:36,920 Speaker 3: stop by Latino Usa dot org and check out our 580 00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:40,320 Speaker 3: weekly Spotify playlist. I'm your host and executive producer Marie 581 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:42,920 Speaker 3: jo Josa. Join us again on our next episode, and 582 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:46,239 Speaker 3: in the meantime, look for us on social media. Ei 583 00:44:46,360 --> 00:44:47,600 Speaker 3: los BeO Ciao. 584 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:53,960 Speaker 12: Latino Usa is made possible in part by New York 585 00:44:54,080 --> 00:44:58,640 Speaker 12: Women's Foundation. The New York Women's Foundation funding women leaders 586 00:44:58,760 --> 00:45:02,720 Speaker 12: that build solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty years 587 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:08,080 Speaker 12: of radical generosity, The Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on 588 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:12,680 Speaker 12: the front lines of social change worldwide, and the John D. 589 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:14,720 Speaker 12: And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 590 00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:28,880 Speaker 1: Testing, Testing, Yeah, Testing, Testinge, tat Yeah, Testing, Tati. 591 00:45:31,840 --> 00:45:35,880 Speaker 3: Hi, Marie Yo Hossan, and Next Time on Latino USA Mana. 592 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:39,160 Speaker 4: They're perhaps the best known rock band from Latin America. 593 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:42,719 Speaker 3: We sit down for a conversation with Alex Gonzalez, the 594 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:43,880 Speaker 3: drummer of Mana. 595 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:46,400 Speaker 4: That's next Time on Latino USA.