I recently came across a website dedicated to telling immigrants’ stories. These are stories straight from the mouths of those who have suffered our country’s immigration laws. Many have overcome incredible obstacles. Many are still trying. I invite all of you to pay a visit to Dreams Across America and maybe even tell your own story.

These are the stories that go beyond the immigration debate. They’re not about political parties or making a point. They are about sharing the reality of immigration in America. And they couldn’t be heard at a better time.

when i came to the U.S from Mexico all i wanted was to succeed and make a better life for me and my family. When i came to this country i passed hard times looking for work and a place to stay a few months later my wife and my two daughters came, thanks to god they came safe and we were united once again. we had a hard time looking for a place to live and for work. my wife and i both started working in construction while we left our children with babysitters. when my older daughter was 10, my wife was pregnant and we had twins a boy and a girl. today my daughters are both attending school one is going to start her very first year as a freshman in high school and the other is going to 5th grade, and the twins are hopefully going to start pre-school soon, my wife is a house mom and i have a succesfull construction company and i own two houses. the reason im writing this is because i think we should keep families together and because i worked too hard in this country to just let everything go. i dont know what i would do if they seperated me from my children. right now wejust want to be legal here in the united states. we want our family to be succesfull and stay together.

So much of the immigration reform debate was built on unrealistic suppositions and reactioanry measures. It’s nice to take a break from political analysts and lawmakers to hear from the people who are really affected by the immigration laws.

I came to the US legally when I was 15. My father was transfered to work here and I came with him, my mother and two of my sisters. My family went back in 1999 and I stayed to finish college. I have been here since then, still legal, but I married an illegal immigrant. I love my husband to death. His family is all here and they are all permanent residents; however, because he was over 21 when his parents filed, he was not eligible. I’m finishing my Masters degree soon and hope to find a sponsor. I understand the pain of most immigrants because I too am separated from my family and if this immigration reform does not go through, I will probably become another illegal immigrant. In order to go see my family, I would have to renew my visa, and it’s getting harder and harder to get it approved; therefore I choose to stay next to my husband, and wait for an immigration reform that will benefit most of the immigrants, as well as the whole country.
However, a reform that will also revise the current visa system is also necessary. There is a great demand for work visas and not enough supply. Certain requirements for certain visas, such as student visa, should also be revised (one year of employment is not enough for someone who is starting a new job, and more time to gain experience in the area should be provided.).
It surprises me when they talk about a free nation, when in fact, many people, who play by the rules, pay taxes and speak English, live in fear.

If this doesn’t put it into perspective, I don’t know what will.

Storyteller
Museo Rufino Tamayo