In this picture, I was only a few months old. The other person in the picture is my mother. This was before my parents decided to migrate to the United States, specifically California. My parents knew they were going to start a life in the U.S, however, when my mother was pregnant with me, the paperwork was not done in time, so I was born in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. It would not be until I was about two years old that I migrated with my mom to the U.S. My father was already a resident living in California; my parents decided to have a life here because my father had his job here and, as mentioned, was already a resident. My father would visit my mother every few months to support her and me. My mother knew she did not want to live in Mexico away from her husband. My uncle, my father’s brother, told my mother if she wanted to migrate to the U.S.; before my mother could process, she agreed. Through this picture, I can feel my mother’s love for me and dedication. Based on how old this picture is and the clothes, it makes me feel nostalgic. This picture is a symbol of the dedication Mexican immigrants have towards their children/family. My parents knew they would not have enough to support us financially in Mexico, thus, the decision to migrate. Latinx/Hispanics dream about “El Norte” because they know that there lies a gleam of hope for a better future across from the border. To this day, I am proud to be a first-generation earning my bachelor's with an immigration background. 

– IS

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant