Maria, Housekeeper, 38 Phoenix, Arizona

Hello,

I was born in Mexico, but I’ve lived in Arizona since I was seven. I’m 38 now, married, with two kids in grade school. They were both born here and are U.S. citizens. I’m not.

I’ve done everything immigration has ever told me to do. Filed the forms. Paid the fees. Showed up for every appointment. I’ve never been in trouble. But in June, my friend went to her hearing and never came home. ICE picked her up right there at the courthouse.

Since then, every time I have to go for mine, I hug my kids a little longer before I leave. I work cleaning houses, pay my taxes, help out at my kids’ school. I just hope this changes… and people stop hating on immigrants.

Maria

Eli’s Response: Maria, I hear you, and I stand with you. Our immigration system is broken, and the fear you live with isn’t what this country is supposed to be about. We need real reform that values the contributions of people like you, keeps families together, and replaces fear with fairness. No one who has built their life here, raised children here, and followed every rule should have to live in constant fear.