I have been back in the U.S. for a few days now, and I have neglected my blog. The truth is I have so much to write about, and I really don't know where to begin. I thought that a good place would be to state the purpose of my journey. I should also mention that things here may be slightly political. Read these things with an open mind, and realize that these are not just my opinions, but these are things that happened to me firsthand.
I came to the U.S. when I was five years old. I entered the country illegally. My family was looking for what so many people in our situation seek; a better life. I am not condoning illegal immigration, but the reason thousands of people risk their lives doing it is because they truly believe that life is better in America. And the reality is that life is better here.
Being illegal is not the ideal situation. As an illegal resident, you essentially live in the shadows of society. You never have the opportunities that others have. There are things that most people would not even think about, like going to college, owning a home or having a credit card.Many people ask, "Why not enter legally?" It is a valid question that does not really have a simple response. My answer would be, "It is not that easy."
Applying for a work visa in Mexico is a long and expensive process. So already there is a barrier for people that don't have the resources to begin a legal process. It is much easier to get a tourist visa, but you are not allowed to work, and your time in the U.S. is limited.So the choice most people make is to enter illegally, and that is the decision my family made.
One of the only ways for someone to become a legal resident is by marriage or by a family relationship. I was able to apply for residency because my wife is a U.S. citizen. So last April we began the process. The process lasted almost exactly a year. It involved a lot of gathering documents, filing out forms, driving back and forth to our attorney's office, waiting, asking for letters, waiting some more, and money. Lots of money. I think we invested over ten thousand dollars. That includes attorney fees, application fees, a waiver fee, a medical exam/immunizations, and travel/lodging expenses.
This has consumed our lives for the past year. There is also an emotional toll that comes from not knowing what is going to happen. At any point in the process, someone could have looked at my file and denied our petition. That is where prayer and faith came in.
One of the worst aspects of this whole process is the fact that you have to travel to Ciudad Juarez for an interview and a waiver appointment. In case you did not know, Mexico is in the midst of a major drug war. There is fighting between the government and the drug cartels, and even amongst the drug cartels themselves. Most of this drug battle is concentrated along the Mexico-U.S. border, and Juarez has become one of more dangerous areas. Innocent people are killed there regularly. This made the thought of having to go there slightly more unsettling. There are also reports of kidnappings for ransom, and violent acts against women.
I do have to say that while there is truth to these reports, there is also some slight media exaggeration. Juarez is a large city, and the violence tends to be concentrated in certain areas. During the day, people go about their daily lives. They work, go to school, and run errands. After dark it is a different story. The city sort of shuts down, and for a good reason. It is a place where you have to be careful who you talk to, and who you trust. I had a flight that left early in the morning, and the people that drove me were hesitant to drive me to the airport because it was still early.
This was all very different to the environment I am used to here in Oregon.So this was a long-winded explanation for the purpose of my journey. Like I said before, read all of this with an open mind. I am not a political person. I don't consider myself to be Democrat or Republican. I am not embarrassed by the fact that I was illegal. If anything, I am a little proud because I believe it helped to shape my character. When you are born in the U.S. so many things are handed to you. As an American citizen you have many rights and opportunities. I am grateful that I can now live here legally, and pursue my goals.
In my next post I will write about my not so triumphant re-entry into Mexico.
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