Showing the faces of immigration reform
(Editor’s note: To protect the identities of those interviewed for this article, the Intermountain Catholic is using their first names only.)
SALT LAKE CITY — A young woman who wants to attend college, a single undocumented mother of six, an undocumented woman who has not seen her parents for 13 years – these are just a few of the Catholics in Utah who are urging immigration reform.
They were among the estimated 200 people who gathered outside Senator Orrin Hatch’s office on May 30 as part of an immigration reform prayer vigil organized by the Campaign for Citizenship.
Father Fernando Barrera, parochial vicar of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem, said many families depend on this reform.
"It’s very important because the people that depend on this are human beings – their lives and the happiness of many people are at risk," Fr. Barrera said. "We need to gather in prayer. It’s a duty as Christians to be sensitive to the human pain. These stories are heartbreaking. There are hundreds who live in the shadows and people don’t realize that."
Among those living in the shadows is Juana, a Cathedral of the Madeleine parishioner, who came to Utah 13 years ago from Tlaxcala, Mexico. Since then she has not seen her parents.
"My father will be 95 years old this year, and I don’t know if I will be able to see him alive again. I would love to see him and hug him again," said Juana, who lives with her son and a brother, who both have legal residency in the U.S.
By comparison, Victor has lived in the United States since he was 6; he’s now college age.
"I came here without knowing any English. It was really hard. People talked to me and I couldn’t understand anything," said Victor.
As time went by he learned the language and, with the help of friends, he was able to integrate more and more.
"I graduated from high school but then I was faced with the fact that I couldn’t enter any college or get any job since they were asking for my [social security number], for my citizenship," said Victor.
His status has always been an obstacle in his life, he said.
"I haven’t been able to develop as a professional or as human being. Even though I have almost all my life lived here, I cannot make a living here or there [in Mexico]. I am stuck," said Victor.
Last year, the federal government approved a law that allowed certain young people who were brought to the U.S. as children to apply for a social security number and worker’s permit. When Victor heard the news, he was really happy, but that emotion didn’t last long because he is just a few months too old to qualify under the legislation, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
"I am kind of in limbo," said Victor, who is trying to contribute as much as he can to the community, including training as a lay leader in his parish.
Others couple affected by immigration issues include Margarita and her husband. The couple met in 1990, fell in love and got married. They contacted several lawyers, trying to get legal status, but never got results.
"We ran out of resources and we cannot find jobs due to our status. We gave all we have and now live scared and uncertain of the future," said Margarita.
An even more dire situation faces Rocio, a young mother who has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease. Her husband was deported and won’t be allowed to re-enter the U.S. for another 10 years; by that time Rocio’s health will be severely deteriorated. Meanwhile, she is scared for their daughters’ future.
"We have two beautiful young daughters, and we all miss him dearly," said Rocio. "Now, due to my disease, I require medical attention (that she cannot receive in Mexico) so I cannot go with my husband…. By the time we will be together again our daughters will be 16 and 19 years old. We need him and miss him."
Yet another situation is faced by Magdalena, a single mother of six children, all of them born in Utah. Her oldest child is 8.
"Their father abandoned us," said Magdalena. "If I get deported, what’s going to happen with my kids?" she asked. "I came here today to pray for immigration reform so we can always stay together."
Among the speakers at the prayer vigil was Father Omar Ontiveros, pastor of Saint Peter and Paul Parish, who said keeping families together is important.
"We need to gather in prayer, in just one faith, no matter our differences," Fr. Ontiveros said. "This reflects the unity that we all have as children of God. The human values are universal, the value of the family is universal and that’s what we are trying to remark in this vigil. We are asking for the protection and wellbeing of all these families through comprehensive immigration reform."
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