“I finished the basics and then I went to the capital to work, it was there that I met some friends who were talking about the opportunity to go to the United States, I told my parents about my concern and they supported me.

I arrived in this country without knowing anyone, a little girl who came in the group gave me a lodging at her house and at the same time suggested that I work with her in a clothing factory from 7am to 7pm, at the end of the month they did not pay me a penny for my work, in this factory I met the one who would be the father of my children Michelle and Alex. After a month of being in this country, without a secure roof and without a dollar in my pockets, I felt that he would be my salvation and support, he painted it beautifully for me.

I became pregnant and the situation at home became more complicated every day, the person I had chosen as a partner drank day and night, practically I was in charge of the home, the money I earned was not enough to pay for the necessary food From day to day, I felt like a failed person, I stopped talking to my family in Guatemala for three years, the shame that happened was so strong that I could not face them, supposedly I came to this country to help my family and I did not have to send them money, that made me hide from them.

I was unaware of the laws of this country, I suffered from abuse at home and being undocumented I thought that I could not report my partner to the authorities. 5 years passed and one day after I could no longer bear the beating I received from my partner, I got up my courage and called the police, at that moment I managed to separate from him, I felt a great relief in my life, I could buy my own things and those of my children, who by that time Alex, my second son, had already been born.When one migrates to this country he must be aware that he will not see his loved ones for a long time, I never imagined that he would not see and hug my friends again. parents.

When my children began to grow up I decided to send them on vacation to visit my parents in Patulul, for my part it was not possible due to my immigration status, at that time communication was different, it was not possible to make a video call and the only one The way to communicate with my mom and dad was by phone or by creating a connection with my children by sending them by plane, Michelle and Alex were born in the United States and therefore could come and go.

By the time I had not seen my parents, the biggest task I gave my children was that they take many photos, at that time they were a roll ‘there are many photos taken’ I told them, through these photos I was realizing how old my parents were getting, especially my father, that from a photo I could see that his sight was losing it.

Three days after my daughter Michell returned from Guatemala, they called me informing me that my father had become ill and that he was in an ambulance for the city, I felt helpless because I was not with him, and in the hospital I managed to call him and hear his voice, ‘Dad, how are you?’ ‘Here Mija, the doctors battling with me’. He was conscious, I felt powerless, it was the last time I heard my dad’s voice.

Years later I went through this pain again with the death of my brother and then that of my mother.

It is difficult to be able to break through in this country, today I think if everything I have been through has been worth it and when I see my children surpassing themselves, I think so. Now that they are grown up, they can understand me and worry about the immigration situation that I still have, we cannot think that one day we will separate. Currently I work with a family that for 20 years has allowed me to work at home, I value and miss customs from my country, I still have family in Guatemala with whom I speak almost every day and who I see grow thanks to the technology that today allows me to see them. ”