Both of my parents grew up in a small town called Icatepec in Guerrero, Mexico. Growing up my parents were always made fun of that they would end up together. Sure enough when both families migrated to the United States and arrived to Arizona my parents got married. I am the second oldest of six children. Being the most outspoken of the herd I was always going with my grandparents to translate for them. Life always seemed to pushed me in the direction of “law”. 

 

I went to a very small community High School called Wilson High School. Being a part of this High School I had my first experience about the immigration laws in the United States. In our High School we had a Solar Technology Club. There was a boat competition and our High School made it to the finals. The finals were in New York. I recall the controversy and attention that our High School received because during the competition four students wanted to see Niagara Falls. They were stopped and arrested by Border Patrol because they had no legal status. Then came the removal proceedings and “The Wilson 4”. 

 

I was moved and sympathetic to the situation because I didn’t understand how my peers who I had gone to school with since we were children didn’t have the same rights and privileges as me. I remember attending marches for what then was called,”The DREAM ACT” to what now is "DACA". 

 

I graduated as a Junior and went to ASU to study Criminal Justice. I later changed my degree to Justice Studies and a minor in Communications. I moved out on my own my first semester of ASU and because of personal reasons and survival needed to leave ASU and work full-time. 

 

I worked for Staples for 10 years but always attended marches and volunteered as much as I could. I stated volunteering with Chicanos Por La Causa in many events. I then realized that immigration is what I wanted to do and it was my passion. I then decided to leave Staples and took a leap of faith and applied at Chicanos For La Causa. I didn’t get hired the first time because I didn’t have enough experience. I continued to volunteer and study. A couple of months later I saw that they were hiring for the immigration office again and I went back. This time I was hired on the spot and then shortly was in charge of the immigration office in Phoenix. 

 

I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to work for Chicanos For La Causa. While I was with the company they paid for all of my immigration credentials and I was able to finish my paralegal associates degree. Sadly, the Phoenix Immigration Office was closed down and all of the staff including other departments were laid off. 

 

Luckily, because of my experience I was able to find another immigration position rather quickly. I was hired as a senior paralegal for a well known law firm and continued my immigration career with them for four years. 

 

I then decided to leave the law firm and open my own business. 

I am blessed and humbled that I am able to do what I love every day. 

 

My parents and family came to the United States as almost every immigrant. For a better life, for the American Dream. 

My parents received their legal status during the amnesty period. 

My siblings and I are very lucky that my parents did. 

I know we would have lived a completely different life if they didn’t have any legal status. 

 

Today, I have helped hundreds obtain a work permit, green card, and citizenship. Included in that I have also been able to help my grandparents and my father with their citizenship. There is no feeling like helping those you love and the immigration community.