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“Tiene papeles?(do you have papers?)" My mother was asked while traveling in a Chicago train [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-06-18
My mother was traveling in the red line when suddenly a lady asked her
“Tiene papeles (do you have papers) ".
My mother looked at the lady for a moment not knowing if she should ignore her or confront her. Before my mom could reply the lady added
“If you don’t have papers, you should get out of the train now, ICE (LA Migra, INS as we called it back them) is making raids at the next stop”.
My mom got out of the train and walked the rest of the way to her house. She lived two blocks away from the train station. From the relative safety of her apartment she could see as ICE (INS, la MIGRA) took people away. It was the mid 80’s and a couple of years later, my mother brought me and my siblings to this country undocumented.
This country became my home, I went to school, got married had kids, I made a life in this country. Something that would have been impossible if she had been detained back then. Years later, I became an “American citizen” but even today people still ask me “Where are you from”? because they will NEVER see me as an American, they will always see me as a foreigner.
As I watch yet another wave of hate and indifference taking hold of this country, as ICE and Donald J. Trump start another wave of raids and deportations.
I wonder when will this country live to its own promise of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness for everyone?
I wonder, when will this country listen to the words inscribe in the statue of liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. .”
I wonder when will this country truly start to welcome everyone regardless of their age, skin color, sex or sexual preference? When will this country live to its full potential and realize that if we ever want to make America Great, we must recognize the contributions of people from all over the world?
I wanted to share that story at the The Moth last night, but my name was not called. Still, every chance I get I use every opportunity to share my immigration stories and to provide a platform for the stories of immigrants, refugees, their descendants and allies. Hopefully I can do help even a tiny bit to help create a future where people are no longer prosecuted but instead welcome, with open arms.
IF anyone want to see soem of the work I have been doing to give a platform to the stories of immigrants, feel free to visit my web site
https://www.nestorgomezstoryteller.com/
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[1] Url:
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