Montserrat’s Arizona story
Montserrat Arredondo is a 18-year woman from Arizona who has lived in Phoenix all her life and is very close to her mother and younger sister. Three years ago Montse’s brother Adrian was killed in a random act of violence – he was shot with their cousin shortly after returning from a trip to Mexico. With the new Arizona law, Montse is afraid that her mother (who remains undocumented) will be detained and deported, leaving her and her sister alone. Perhaps worst of all, they will no longer be able to share the ritual of visiting the brother’s grave together.
When the anti-immigrant SB 1070 law was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Montse helped organize vigils to protest the likely crackdown on Latinos – citizens, legal residents, and undocumented alike. She continues to be active in the immigrant rights movement, with her mother’s plight always at the top of her mind. Montse is preparing to start college at Arizona State in the fall and is planning to get a degree in social work.
