Category: Financial Hardship

Diana S, 29, Los Angeles, CA Born in Mexico I’ve been working hard since I was 16. It’s one reason I didn’t finish high school until I was 20. Now I have three small children of my own and work full-time so it’s hard to ...

Maite D, 27, North Carolina, Born in Mexico I think of myself as an American because I’ve lived in the U.S. since I was 12. This is the home my parents sacrificed everything to provide for me. I graduated high school ...

Ana C, 42, Tremonton, UT, Born in El Salvador I remember wanting to kill myself when I was seven, but even on tiptoes, I couldn’t reach the rat poison. I was hopeless, living without the love I so needed as a child. M ...

Maria and Alvaro F, Iowa, Born in Mexico Married for 18 years, we came to the States 22 years ago. We had been childhood sweethearts in Mexico since we were 15. Our two U.S.-born children make us very proud, especiall ...

Mellisa V, 25, Georgia, Born in Mexico For me, growing up as Undocumented meant thinking every moment spent with my family could be my last. I feared deportation and being separated from my mom and dad and three sibli ...

Jose Luis Z, 28, Collage Station, Texas, Born in Honduras My mom, who was already living in the U.S., felt she had no choice but to get me out of Honduras because I had been shot at twice while playing soccer -- being ...

Ximena S, 18, Houston,Texas, Born in Mexico My mom left Mexico first, traveling to Texas, before returning for my brother and me. Together we crossed the border a decade ago. I was only eight so I don’t remember much. ...

Rene A-P (Allen), 28, & Gabriela A-P (Sophy), 30, Pomona, CA, Born in Mexico Allen and Sophy gave themselves new names to signify their new lives as they escaped starvation, violence, their father’s death and thei ...

Marcela V, 27, Los Angeles, Born in Mexico I have been a dreamer since I was two, when my parents brought me to the States, sadly leaving three of their children behind. It was financially impossible to bring all ...

Heyra A, 19, Florence, Kentucky, Born in Veracruz, Mexico It was a long and nerve-racking process getting my family into the States. First my father came and stayed with mom’s siblings, then he came back for my mom an ...