Yvette’s story: 18 year old working hard to help raise siblings after father is deported
Yvette Jimenez-Mota is one of 6 siblings, all US citizens. She is 18 and is attending community college in the Bay Area. Her parents arrived to the US separately, her mom in 1987, her father in 1990. While attempting to adjust their status they got bad advise from an attorney which ended in deportation orders for both. Her father, Victor Jimenez, was deported 2 years ago; her mother, Macrina Moto, fought the deportation and just a month ago won a stay so that she can be with her 6 children.
When my father was forced to leave it felt like our lives were truly over – we are a big family and he was the breadwinner. We ended up homeless for over 4 months in 2009. It’s not a pretty feeling but I had to be strong – my younger siblings and my mom needed me, as the oldest, to bring at least some kind of support my father was giving before he was deported. Everything changed in 2008 and now my life feels much more consequential. The most important things in my life are my family and my education. My family has always been there for me, and now it is my turn to take care of them, as much as I can.
Still, it feels horrible. I feel betrayed: my parents paid taxes for over 20 years, my mom was always involved in the community. My parents tried everything to fit in and be good citizens, and in the end, despite having six U.S. citizen children and 20-plus years of paying taxes, they are told they don’t belong here.
I believe in the American values of keeping a family together, that value of unity. Also, I believe in the power of voice in an individual. My experience in having my family torn apart has strengthened these family values. It is odd for me to think this nation prides itself on strong families, and yet tears them apart. Heartlessly.
If my parents had legal status in this country, I’d be in a 4-year college and I wouldn’t need to worry about working so hard. As it is I can only take a few classes at community college because I have to work in order to help my mom take care of my younger siblings. If my parents had legal status, we would live without fear of forcefully being separated. My younger brother would grow up with a father, and we could finally celebrate Christmas together.
I am an American. My parents are American! They both have spent most of their adult years in the U.S. I like how there is so much opportunity to grow here – I am free to speak in America, and I will continue to use that to fight for change to the immigration system.
Most American’s are completely ignorant to what it is to be an immigrant. They don’t know why immigrants come here, and they are clueless to the kinds of contributions they’ve made. Most Americans don’t understand why it is so good for our country to welcome immigrants. But it is.
