In 2005-ish my parents and 2-year-old sister came to New York City from Mexico City on a work visa for my dad’s job as a graphic designer with the Spanish department. My parents didn't speak any English, and they didn’t expect to stay very long after the work visa expired. Since their whole lives were in Mexico, including their families and all their friends, they thought that they would go back as soon as they could, but having me and my brother forced them to stay a little longer until unfortunately my father was let go from his job during the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. There they were in New York City, a family of four with me on the way, struggling without direct support from family because we were alone because my mom was a stay-at-home mom, so when he was let go from his job, my mom was forced to find a job. Everything worked out because my parents got back on their feet and decided that the education was better in New York, so they got their green cards and became citizens of the U.S, thinking they would only stay for a couple more years, so in their minds, we would wait until I finished elementary, but by that time we already had planted roots here and decided to stay.

– Pax Gamboa Arzate

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant